US Energy Security Erodes as Strategic Reserves Plummet

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has seen its lowest level since 1982, at 286.6 million barrels, after repeated drawdowns due to increased reliance on emergency stockpiles.

This shift in strategy by the Trump administration aimed to shield domestic fuel prices from oil price spikes triggered by geopolitical crises.

However, experts warn that this move erodes the country's longer-term energy security buffer and reduces its ability to respond to future supply shocks.

The SPR has been depleted significantly since the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, with a decline of approximately 36% in just over a year.

Despite efforts to rebuild strategic reserves, Washington's current stocks are equivalent to only two weeks of US petroleum consumption, down from roughly one month at the start of the crisis.