Vietnam shifts LPG imports from Middle East to US amid geopolitical energy realignments
Original framing: “Vietnam Gas Major Looks to US as Iran War Reorders LPG Flows” — Bloomberg
Historically, Vietnam has been shaped by energy transitions tied to colonial and post-colonial dynamics. The current shift to U.S. LPG imports echoes patterns from the Cold War, where energy became a tool of geopolitical influence. Similar shifts occurred in the 1970s and 1980s when Vietnam sought to diversify energy sources amid regional conflicts.
Vietnam's shift toward U.S. LPG imports amid the Iran war reflects a broader systemic pattern of geopolitical energy dependency that reinforces global power imbalances.
This transition is not merely a market response but a symptom of deeper structural issues, including historical colonial legacies, corporate control over energy resources, and the marginalization of local and indigenous energy solutions. By integrating cross-cultural energy models, investing in renewables, and centering marginalized voices, Vietnam can move toward a more resilient and equitable energy future. The trickster element in this narrative—seeking energy stability through dependence on a geopolitically unstable source—reveals the absurdity of current energy paradigms and the urgent need for systemic transformation.