Our generation grew up with the belief that peace, stability, and international order were almost self-evident conditions. For decades, the world operated within a framework of relative predictability, where even major crises could be absorbed. Today, that era has definitively come to an end.
In recent years, we have been experiencing a profound and turbulent transition. The world has entered a new phase in which the old international order is receding and a multipolar system is emerging. Different centers of power, with divergent strategies and perspectives, are clashing while simultaneously shaping an environment of instability and uncertainty.
In this new landscape, the role of leadership is decisive. From Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to China and other regional powers, a mosaic of strategies is taking shape—one that renders the world less predictable and increasingly competitive.
At the same time, international institutions are showing signs of weakness. The United Nations no longer possesses the authority and influence it once held, while multilateral diplomacy is retreating in the face of confrontational approaches and regional initiatives.
The crisis in the Middle East and the confrontation with Iran reveal the limits of traditional approaches. Iran has demonstrated that a deeply entrenched regime cannot be easily subdued, while also retaining the capacity to significantly influence global balances. Israel, on the other hand, operates under the imperative of existential security, seeking to neutralize every threat, while the United States searches for a new balance between power and realism.
Within this environment, new regional players are also emerging, such as Turkey and Pakistan, seeking to play a role in shaping developments. The international system is becoming increasingly fluid.
In this context, energy is emerging as a central field of confrontation. Even if hostilities in the Middle East de-escalate, the real conflict will continue in the domain of energy. Developments in recent weeks have revealed a deep, structural transformation in the global energy system, with consequences that will last for years.
The surge in oil and natural gas prices, market uncertainty, and the threat of disruption to critical routes—such as the Strait of Hormuz—are turning energy into a strategic instrument of power. Iran has shown that it can influence not only the physical flow of energy but also market psychology.
Energy security is returning to the forefront. Europe, Asia, and emerging economies are being forced to redesign their strategies. Nuclear energy, coal, renewable sources, and the pursuit of energy self-sufficiency are gaining renewed importance. States are called upon to invest, diversify their sources, and strengthen their resilience.
The European Union, despite its weaknesses, could play a crucial role as a force for dialogue and stabilization. Its lack of hard power may, in fact, serve as an advantage in an environment where major powers are in conflict.
The wars of our time do not end with an announcement. The conflict in Ukraine and developments in the Middle East show that their consequences last for years, affecting energy, the economy, and global security.
For Greece, this new reality requires strategic composure and consistency. Commitment to international law, the strengthening of deterrent capacity, and the avoidance of involvement in conflicts beyond its obligations are key choices. Foreign policy is not a field for impressions, but one of responsibility.
The emerging world is more unstable and more demanding. This transition will endure and will be accompanied by continuous realignments.
War may end on the battlefield. In energy, however, it is only just beginning.