The German weekly newspaper *Der Spiegel* highlighted the growing geopolitical tensions in the energy sector in a recent article titled "The Real Battle for the Energy of the Future is About to Begin." The article praises China's strategic approach to developing new energy sources, while also warning that a potential escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran could trigger a period that it describes as a "cold war of energy."

According to the article, any restriction or blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would have a significant impact on global energy markets and could trigger one of the most serious energy crises in recent years. However, from a long-term perspective, the article identifies China as one of the main "winners" of this situation, as it is both the world's largest energy consumer and a significant producer.

The analysis also features the opinion of American historian and advisor Nils Gilman, from the Berggruen Institute, who speaks of a possible future "energy-ecological cold war." Within this framework, he suggests that the world could be divided into an "axis of oil-producing states" and a "camp of electric states," i.e., economies focused on electricity and renewable energy sources.

The article also emphasizes that China has significantly strengthened its position in the energy sector in recent years. Although it still consumes a large amount of fossil fuels, it is now seen as an "energy superpower," particularly due to the massive development of solar, wind, and hydropower. The installed capacity of these sources in China, according to the article, is approaching the combined capacity of Europe and North America.

In the context of the current geopolitical upheavals caused by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the article argues that a model based on the development of alternative energy sources may become increasingly attractive in the future. For Europe, it suggests that, from the perspective of long-term energy security, a focus on Chinese technologies may be more stable than reliance on the import of oil and natural gas from other regions.

CMG