G20 Energy Ministers Convene in Houston Amid Global Fuel Market Turmoil

The United States launched a series of G20 meetings on Monday promoting “energy abundance,” even as President Donald Trump’s war against Iran continues to shake global fuel markets.

The discussions are scheduled to run through Wednesday in Houston, Texas — a state long recognized as a major hub of American oil production.

Delegations from the world’s largest economies, including China, India, Japan, and Germany, are taking part, alongside major oil-producing nations such as Canada and Saudi Arabia.

Russian diplomats indicated over the weekend that Moscow would also dispatch some officials to the gathering.

The unexpected attendance of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov drew attention at a previous G20 meeting held just two weeks earlier.

Ukraine’s European allies voiced frustration over the US decision to invite Russia, a move that ran counter to broader efforts to isolate Moscow over its invasion of its neighbor.

The Houston talks take place against a backdrop of surging oil and gas prices driven by the Middle East conflict, with Europe scrambling to replenish its gas storage reserves before winter.

Among Washington’s stated priorities as G20 host is broadening access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy — a goal that has been severely undermined since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February.

Fuel costs have skyrocketed across the United States, where the average price of a gallon (3.78 liters) of diesel has reached a record $6.20, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Regular gasoline prices are now 44 percent higher than they were before the conflict began.

The unpopular war and its economic fallout have raised fears within Trump’s Republican Party that the party could suffer defeats in the November midterm elections.

The US president has accused Iran of prolonging the conflict for political advantage, recently claiming the war would conclude “immediately” after the election.

Trump also blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for exacerbating diesel shortages through strikes targeting Russian refineries.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a central figure in Washington’s energy negotiations with Venezuela, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are expected to attend the Houston meetings.

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