[vrganj]

Longer term Europe is positioned to come out of this looking pretty good.

Renewables already surpass fossil fuel in the energy mix [0], this will only accelerate the shift to energy independence.

It's countries that actively resisted diversifying their energy mix like the US that will feel the long term pain.

[0] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/22/wind-and...

[JumpCrisscross]

I like your optimism. But I don't see the plan. The short-term impact is going to be nasty–regardless of trend, Europe depends on imported oil and gas. The same Europe that is currently financing an expensive military buildup.

The answer is to strike a deal with China. Unfortunately, that requires compromising on some values.

> countries that actively resisted diversifying their energy mix

Rhetoric aside, America continues to add renewable capacity [1].

[1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67367

[vrganj]

I have long been advocating striking a deal with China.

The US has been trying to sell out Europe to Russians in a misguided quest to win them over against the Chinese.

The only reasonable reaction is a Metternichian rebalancing of powers.

[metalman]

China is cutting two deals, one with themselves, and another with everybody else. They have one overriding rule which applys internaly and externaly, dont mess with the brand, ever ,or it will cost you more than you can pay. Also if you dig into things you will find that China has certain trade practises that they have been in place for 3000 years without a pause, and therein lies the only "deal" they will make. Another also is the recognition by China of modern Iran, bieng another "elder civilisation" that they have comonalities with but never had issue with.

[JumpCrisscross]

> only reasonable reaction is a Metternichian rebalancing of powers

It's rational, but it comes at costs. (And with costs.) China would have to put a stop to Putin's revanchism. Otherwise, Europe is just financing its burial and subjugation. And the EU would have to sign off on China's human-right records, and, in all likelihood, Taiwan policy. That, in turn, sets up a clash with the rest of Asia.

[vrganj]

That is pretty much my opinion as well.

[laffOr]

I was extremely surprised by this figure, so I checked the article and it's not "Renewables already surpass fossil fuel in the energy mix" but "Renewables already surpass fossil fuel in the electricity production" right? This is a massive difference. According to Wikipedia, fossil fuels were about 75% of the energy mix in the UK (to take on example) as late as 2024.