A key architect of Donald Trump’s energy and climate policies is issuing a stark warning to European nations regarding their reliance on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at the Heritage Foundation, cautioned in an interview with “Der Spiegel” that importing these goods from China poses a significant strategic risk.
Furchtgott-Roth’s concerns echo anxieties already prevalent within the United States, particularly given China’s demonstrated willingness to leverage its control over critical minerals and rare earth elements as a geopolitical tool. She drew a direct parallel to the vulnerability exposed when Russia significantly curtailed its gas supplies to Europe following the invasion of Ukraine, suggesting China could adopt a similar approach. “We are witnessing firsthand how China is blocking deliveries of rare earths and critical minerals to the U.S. and Europe. Such dependence can put economies in a very precarious situation.
Her commentary carries considerable weight given her role in shaping the policy direction of the Heritage Foundation, currently considered the most influential think tank in the United States. Furchtgott-Roth is a leading author of “Project 2025” a detailed manifesto intended as a blueprint for a potential second Trump administration. The initiative’s tracker reveals that nearly half of its proposed policies have already been implemented through executive orders and legislation.
Project 2025 explicitly calls for the United States to achieve global energy dominance based on fossil fuels – a direct reversal of previous climate initiatives. This shift underpins the current administration’s move away from promoting electric vehicles and renewable energy projects. Furchtgott-Roth justified this policy by arguing that a significant portion of the world’s wind turbines and solar panels are produced in China, emphasizing the potential for technological dependence.
Beyond strategic concerns, Furchtgott-Roth also asserted that fossil fuel-based energy production remains more cost-effective and reliable. She pointed to the abundance of oil, gas and coal reserves within the United States, characterizing them as ensuring “affordable and demand-driven supply”. This stance underscores a broader rejection within certain conservative circles of aggressive climate action.
Furthermore, Furchtgott-Roth downplayed the urgency of climate change, suggesting it is not the United States’ “most pressing problem” while acknowledging emissions increases in countries like China and India. This perspective reflects a desire to prioritize domestic energy production, regardless of environmental consequences and to resist international pressure to curtail fossil fuel usage. Her long history advising Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Trump, amplifies the potential for similar policies should a future administration embrace the Project 2025 agenda.