Atlantic Council’s 9th Global Energy Forum held June 17–18, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

06.19.2025

🌐 Key Highlights from the Forum

1. “Collaboration, Competition, and Security”

Under this theme, global policymakers, corporate leaders, and experts explored how industrial policy is being used to gain geopolitical advantage, fortify supply chains, and drive energy innovation ([atlanticcouncil.org][1], [atlanticcouncil.org][2]).

2. AI & Energy Nexus

– Sultan Al Jaber (UAE) emphasized: “AI supremacy is essentially an energy play,” calling for “hyperscaling” energy systems—including small modular reactors and nuclear—to match surging data-centre demand.

– A panel led by Landon Derentz reinforced that without reliable, abundant power, AI advancement could stall.

3. Nuclear’s Strategic Role

Civil nuclear energy emerged as central to global energy security. Leaders highlighted the need for policy support and investment to deploy nuclear at scale.

4. Defense & Energy Resilience

Lt. Gen. Jered Helwig remarked: “The Department of Defense runs on fuel”—underscoring the risks of supply chain vulnerabilities and cyber threats to power systems supporting defense infrastructure.

5. Transatlantic Energy Ties

U.S.–EU energy cooperation remains crucial. Discussions focused on LNG exports, shared strategic interests, and the intertwined nature of transatlantic energy and security.

🇰🇿 SMRs in Kazakhstan: A Spotlight

Amid the Forum interactions the Center for Global Civic and Political Strategies highlighted with forum participants why small modular reactors (SMRs) in Kazakhstan present a compelling case:

Kazakhstan leads globally in uranium mining, controlling around 40% of world supply.

By pursuing SMRs, Kazakhstan could **integrate its entire nuclear fuel chain—from mining to reactor operations**—in a clean, scalable manner.

📝 Final Take

The Global Energy Forum reinforced the centrality of “multilateral cooperation” in navigating energy’s geopolitical complexity. It challenged leaders to scale energy—and AI—seamlessly, elevate nuclear power in the energy mix, and bolster defense infrastructure through energy resilience. SMR discussion underscored the potential of aligning resource wealth, innovation, and policy to reshape the global nuclear landscape.

References:

* [atlanticcouncil.org](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/energy-security-is-only-achievable-through-global-partnerships

* [atlanticcouncil.org](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-department-of-defense-runs-on-fuel-energys-evolving-role-in-us-security

* [atlanticcouncil.org](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/transcripts/the-ai-race-is-not-just-about-code-its-about-gigawatts-says-the-uaes-sultan-al-jaber/

[1]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/2025-global-energy-forum/

[2]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/global-energy-center/global-energy-forum/

[3]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/transcripts/the-ai-race-is-not-just-about-code-its-about-gigawatts-says-the-uaes-sultan-al-jaber/

[4]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/events/flagship-event/global-energy-forum/the-energy-system-is-more-complex-than-ever-navigating-ai-competitiveness-and-growth/

[5]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/energy-security-is-only-achievable-through-global-partnerships/

[6]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-department-of-defense-runs-on-fuel-energys-evolving-role-in-us-security/

[7]: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/region/central-asia/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Central Asia - Atlantic Council"

[8]: https://astanatimes.com/2025/06/atlantic-councils-us-central-asia-forum-highlights-strategic-opportunities-in-critical-minerals/