By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Europe’s continued closure of oil refineries and failure to build new ones could leave NATO facing a critical fuel-supply problem during a major military conflict, Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Thursday.
Rutte said the concern extends beyond current discussions over whether the United States could restrict diesel exports, pointing instead to Europe’s own reduced ability to refine the petroleum products required by modern armed forces.
During a Bloomberg interview, Rutte was asked about the possibility of a U.S. diesel export ban and its potential implications for Europe.
He declined to weigh directly into the dispute between the European Union and Washington, saying it would not be helpful for him to comment on issues belonging to the EU.
Bloomberg Television Chief Political Correspondent and co-host Annmarie Hordern then raised the military implications of a shortage.
“If you don’t have diesel, though, that could be a problem for NATO.”
Rutte agreed that fuel availability presented a broader defense concern but shifted the focus to refining capacity within Europe itself.
“Yeah. But there’s also another issue, which I can talk about, and that is the refining capacity in Europe itself. What we are seeing is no new refineries being built in Europe. We are seeing that refineries are being closed down. And if war breaks out, if the Russians would attack and we have to defend ourselves, we need massive amounts of diesel and other oil products for our F-35s, our fighter jets, for our tanks, etc., and that is a big worry. But, of course, that is not directly linked now to whatever is playing out between the E.U. and the U.S.”
Rutte’s comments highlighted the role petroleum products continue to play in NATO’s military readiness despite Europe’s broader energy transition.
A major conflict, he said, would sharply increase demand not only for diesel but also for other refined fuels needed to operate aircraft, armored vehicles and other military equipment.
His warning centered on the gap between that potential wartime demand and Europe’s declining domestic refining capacity.
Rutte specifically cited the lack of new refinery construction alongside existing refinery closures as a vulnerability that could become more consequential if NATO were required to respond to a Russian attack.
At the same time, he drew a distinction between that structural defense concern and the immediate disagreement involving Washington and Brussels over potential U.S. diesel export restrictions.
The NATO chief did not take a position on the export dispute, instead framing Europe’s refining capacity as a separate strategic issue that alliance members may have to address regardless of how the U.S.-EU discussions are resolved.
Original article
Comments