8. America’s Oil Diplomacy
Throughout the 20th century, securing reliable access to oil profoundly shaped U.S. foreign policy, prompting strategic interventions globally, particularly in the Middle East and Latin America. Driven by energy security concerns, America supported authoritarian regimes and engaged in covert operations, including the 1953 CIA-led coup overthrowing Iran’s democratic government after it nationalized oil assets. Similarly, U.S. influence extended into Latin America, where petroleum interests guided diplomatic relationships and interventions. Oil diplomacy became integral to American strategy, intertwining economic goals with geopolitical maneuvering, and highlighting the lengths to which powerful nations would go to maintain control over crucial energy resources.
