In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, the former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, criticized Joe Biden’s energy policies, suggesting they have weakened the U.S.’s international and domestic standing.
Pompeo expressed concerns over allies’ trust in the U.S.’s ability to meet their energy needs and adversaries capitalizing on opportunities. He highlighted how Russia, leveraging its energy markets, has been charging higher prices for crude oil, especially to China. According to Pompeo, this shift in energy dynamics poses significant risks to U.S. interests.
The conversation occurred during the American Energy Security Summit in Oklahoma City. World leaders and industry experts are discussing the link between energy policy and national security.
Pompeo also disagreed with Biden’s decision to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, asserting that Biden’s administration used it as a political tool rather than a strategic one. He stressed the world’s vast daily oil consumption and suggested that releasing oil from the reserve wouldn’t significantly affect consumer gas prices.
Furthermore, he emphasized the global significance of energy. While Americans often associate energy with vehicles, for many countries, it’s about basic necessities such as lighting homes, sanitation, and food production. Pompeo credited the Trump administration with recognizing the importance of the U.S. as a leading LNG producer and the economic and security benefits it provides.
During his tenure as CIA director and secretary of state, Pompeo also noted that energy discussions were central to many diplomatic interactions. He felt that the Biden administration’s focus on climate change and LGBTQ rights might send mixed signals to other nations, possibly portraying the U.S. as hypocritical.
Additionally, Pompeo took issue with Biden’s approach toward transitioning to electric vehicles, viewing it as impractical and not rooted in the country’s current capabilities. He mentioned the closure of the Keystone XL pipeline and pulling leases on federal lands as examples of the Biden administration’s “anti-energy” stance.
Lastly, with both Trump and Biden planning to visit striking UAW workers in Michigan, Pompeo opined that while the workers’ concerns are valid, the visits by the former and current presidents are politically motivated.
