25th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Energy Security
Honorable Helene Conway-Mouret underscored the paramount importance of information, intelligence, and energy security in fostering national and global resilience. She elucidated how global dependencies on foreign resources, exacerbated by short-term profit motives, undermine sovereignty, local industries, and social stability. She cited the bankruptcy of a motorbike company in Senegal as a poignant example of the detrimental impact of cheaper Chinese imports. Such dependencies can precipitate unemployment, poverty, and social unrest, creating fertile ground for extremist groups to exploit.
Conway-Mouret observed that recent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have unveiled vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, particularly for masks, energy, and gas. She unequivocally called for immediate investment in renewable energy and local production to fortify national sovereignty, generate employment opportunities, preserve technological expertise, and diminish reliance on external actors.
She also raised concerns about the imperialistic aspirations of China and Russia in Africa, particularly concerning rare earth minerals and infrastructure projects that exacerbate debt dependency, often accompanied by resource exploitation. She extolled African inclusion in international institutions and emphasized the continent’s strategic significance.
In summation, she asserted that energy security and national security are intrinsically linked, emphasizing the imperative to maintain resilience against external pressures. She unequivocally reaffirmed support for Ukraine, commending its people’s courage and determination as a model for resilience.
