The Kremlin's Energy Weapon: From Soviet Doctrine to Modern Imperialism (legrandcontinent.eu)

• Hydrocarbon exports remain the central pillar of Russian state financing and military sustainment.
• Historical patterns demonstrate that Moscow views energy as a tool to maintain influence in Eastern Europe.
• The shift from economic partner to geopolitical aggressor was fueled by revenues from energy-dependent European markets.

"Russia’s use of energy exports as a geopolitical weapon is a deep-rooted historical continuity rather than a post-2022 innovation. Since the Cold War, Moscow has utilized hydrocarbons not just as commodities, but as instruments of influence, coercion, and empire maintenance. From the 'Druzhba' pipeline to modern Nord Stream projects, the strategy remains consistent: leverage economic interdependence to weaken transatlantic ties and finance imperial ambitions. The analysis posits that the West’s belief in 'Wandel durch Handel' (change through trade) was a fundamental strategic miscalculation that enabled current Russian aggression."