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NEW YORK - United States dependence on oil imports has weakened its foreign policy influence, while the sway of crude producers such as Iran, Russia and Venezuela has grown, a Council on Foreign Relations report says.
Former US Secretary of Defence James Schlesinger, co-chairman of the group writing the report, said the oil dependence of China and India should be a concern, noting Beijing had negotiated with rogue and "near-rogue" states such as Iran and Sudan to secure future oil resources. The US has to compete with China and India for oil imports.
"At best these trends will challenge US foreign policy; at worst they will seriously strain relations between the US and these countries," the report said.
Oil wealth had allowed Iran, Russia and Venezuela to pursue and adopt policies that opposed US interests and values, it said.
"Much of the European Union are more reluctant to confront difficult issues with Russia and Iran because of their dependence on imported oil and gas as well as the desire to pursue business opportunities in those countries."
- REUTERS
