The war in the Middle East has made a powerful case for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The global economy, heavily reliant on oil, faces severe disruption as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted. The waterway handles more than a quarter of the world's seaborne oil shipments and a fifth of its liquefied natural gas. Oil prices rose sharply, briefly exceeding $119 per barrel.
The largest-ever coordinated release of oil from national strategic reserves is taking place to help moderate costs. Nevertheless, billions of people worldwide are confronting higher energy bills along with elevated prices for food and fertilizers. Several governments have imposed measures to curb demand, including Sri Lanka designating Wednesdays as public sector holidays, Myanmar restricting private vehicle use to alternate days, and Bangladesh canceling classes at colleges.
Officials in South Korea and the European Commission have pointed to the energy crisis as reason to speed up the move away from fossil fuels toward domestic renewable power. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the advantages of renewables in a March 10 social media message, noting the absence of price surges for sunlight or blockades on wind.
Countries in the Middle East and North Africa exhibit varied approaches to energy transitions, shaped by their levels of dependence on fossil fuels, financial constraints, governance, and security conditions. A disruption in the Strait of Hormuz carries different implications for Riyadh than for Ankara or Baghdad.
For major oil and gas producers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, the situation offers potential revenue gains from higher prices while simultaneously threatening the infrastructure that generates that income. Iranian actions have struck oil facilities and transport hubs in the Gulf, and the effective closure of the strait has restricted exports, underscoring the risks to fossil fuel supply chains.
These nations have set targets to expand renewable energy. Saudi Arabia, for instance, seeks to raise the share of renewables in electricity generation to 50 percent by 2030, from about 3 percent at the end of 2023. Its leading clean energy firms have committed $17 billion to solar and wind projects over multiple years.
At the same time, far greater sums continue to flow into fossil fuel expansion. Saudi Aramco allocated $52.2 billion in 2025 for new oil and gas facilities. This dual approach rests on expectations of sustained global demand for hydrocarbons, though current events also demonstrate the exposure of such reliance when conflicts drive up costs for importers and hinder exports.
Energy-importing nations such as Jordan, Morocco, and Turkey are advancing renewables primarily to alleviate the financial burden of fossil fuel imports. Turkey obtains more than 70 percent of its fossil fuels from abroad, including nearly all its natural gas, with 17 percent of that gas previously sourced from Iran. While natural gas contributes less than one-fifth of electricity, it supports heating and industry extensively.
Turkey's energy import expenses are rising amid broader economic challenges, including higher borrowing costs and currency pressures. Jordan similarly depends on imports for over 90 percent of its energy needs.
These countries have already made progress in renewables. More than half of Turkey's installed electricity capacity now comes from renewable sources. Morocco operates one of the world's largest concentrated solar power installations, with renewables accounting for 25 percent of its electricity. Jordan has increased its renewable share from nearly zero to more than a quarter of power generation within about 10 years.
The ongoing conflict has reinforced the value of such investments, even as it generates inflationary pressures, restricts financing, and challenges public budgets required for further development. Each unit of power from Turkish wind or Moroccan solar reduces reliance on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, though tighter finances complicate additional projects.
In nations already experiencing conflict, such as Iraq, the crisis compounds existing difficulties. As the region's second-largest oil producer and an OPEC member, Iraq relies on gas imports from Iran for a substantial portion of its electricity generation, a link now at risk. Oil exports via the southern port of Basra provide around 90 percent of government revenue, and any major interruption could impair state functions. The country faces persistent power shortages and possesses almost no renewable capacity.
In Yemen, Libya, and Syria, prolonged conflicts have damaged or ruined energy infrastructure. These nations purchase fuel at international market rates to operate generators and maintain essential services, including hospitals. Rising oil prices further strain their ability to secure energy supplies, turning the current war into a direct threat to access rather than a prompt for transition.
The United Nations climate conference is scheduled for November in Turkey, placing the gathering in a region at the heart of the turmoil. The conflict has strengthened arguments for the economic, security, and humanitarian advantages of shifting to renewable energy, while also illustrating that national paths differ widely according to local conditions that often existed before the latest hostilities.
Originally reported by The Invading Sea on Apr 5, 2026.
