In 2018, the U.S. crude oil production jumped to the top of the world again after 45 years. With shale oil production increasing, export volume is expected to approach Saudi Arabia, which is currently the largest exporter in five years.

Japanese media pointed out that the U.S. offensive in pursuit of energy dominance will bring about changes in the balance of power between oil-producing countries in the Middle East and Russia. The pro-Israel Trump regime has steadily strengthened sanctions against Iran, ushering in a historic turning point around geopolitics of energy.

According to the monthly energy report released by the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) on March 26, the output of crude oil in the United States increased by 17% in 2018 compared with 2017, Japan Economic News reported on March 28. Daily output surpassed that of Russia and Saudi Arabia, reaching 10.95 million barrels, ranking first in the world. In the early 2000′s, the United States launched the “Shale Revolution” by establishing the technology to extract oil from deep underground rock formations. The current crude oil production is twice that of 10 years ago.

The Trump government believes that increasing domestic energy production will create more jobs. Through deregulation, shale oil production has been increased. The U.S. Energy Information Agency predicts that the United States will continue to increase production by 2027, with a maximum of 14 million barrels a day.

Increasing crude oil production will expand the influence of the United States on foreign and trade policies. At a meeting in Texas on March 12, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo stressed that “rich energy will be used as a diplomatic chip to vigorously pursue the national interests of the United States”.

The United States imposes economic sanctions on Iran, Venezuela and other hostile oil-producing countries. According to the US media, about eight countries and regions, such as Japan and China, which are not applicable to US sanctions and can purchase crude oil in Iran, some people in the Trump regime have proposed that the purchase of crude oil will not be allowed after the beginning of May.

Some people interpret that the increase in U.S. production will restrain the rise in crude oil prices, even if Iran’s crude oil production is reduced, the impact on the market is not great.

Trump acknowledged on 25 March that the sovereignty of the Golan Heights seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 belonged to Israel. It also strongly criticized Iran as the backing of the Syrian Assad regime, and its bias towards Israel became more obvious.

Expanding crude oil production can also gradually reduce the trade deficit. Since the former Obama regime lifted the ban on crude oil exports in 2015, U.S. crude oil exports have expanded rapidly. Exports reached 2 million barrels a day in 2018, up 70% from 2017. Export areas include about 40 countries and regions such as Asia, Europe and South America.

The Trump regime hopes to further increase exports. In the Sino-US trade negotiations, China has put forward the requirement of purchasing large quantities of crude oil and other energy resources from the United States. Japan, which will negotiate trade with the United States, may also be forced to expand its purchases.

In terms of diplomacy and trade, the Trump regime intends to use crude oil as a card for its “U.S. priority” policy. It is planned to publicize this achievement and help it win again in the US presidential election in 2020.

In the long run, expanding crude oil production will make the United States “far away from the Middle East”. Trump wants to withdraw U.S. troops in Syria and elsewhere and get out of the Middle East. At the end of 2017, the U.S. national security strategy also put forward the policy of shifting the focus from the Middle East anti-terrorism war to the confrontation with China and Russia. The analysis points out that the alternation of international energy hegemony also contains the danger of side effects such as leading to instability in the Middle East.