Green Energy and New Forms of Diplomacy: Environmental Strategies in International Power Struggle

Abstract

This article underscores the urgency and strategic significance of transitioning to green energy, framing it not only as an environmental necessity but also as a transformative force reshaping international power dynamics, diplomatic strategies, and governance models. It investigates how this transformation has generated a new foreign policy instrument: green energy diplomacy. The study employs a conceptual-deductive methodology, combining a multi-layered content analysis with an extensive literature review, the assessment of international documents, and a theoretical framework based on realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The policies of major actors—the European Union, the United States, China, India, and Turkey—are analyzed as case examples to illustrate the evolving nature of green energy diplomacy. Findings reveal that green energy diplomacy has become a strategic arena where energy security, climate objectives, and geopolitical interests intersect. The European Union’s normative leadership, the United States’ technology-driven strategy, China’s infrastructure-based approach under the Belt and Road Initiative, and India’s equity-focused environmental policies exemplify diverse strategies shaping this new diplomatic field. Furthermore, Turkey’s emerging role as a regional intermediary in energy transition highlights its potential to enhance diplomatic influence through renewable energy initiatives. The study argues that green energy policies are closely linked with multilateralism, polylateralism, and the diffusion of environmental norms, marking a departure from the traditional energy security paradigm. By emphasizing hybrid diplomatic practices, the research demonstrates that green energy diplomacy is redefining negotiation mechanisms, reshaping power relations, and influencing governance structures within the international system. Ultimately, the article concludes that green energy transformation is not only altering environmental policy agendas but also reconstructing national interests in line with global sustainability imperatives. Multilateral and polylateral cooperation emerges as a crucial pillar of this process, offering a pathway to build a more inclusive and cooperative international order capable of addressing the climate crisis.