The United States has called on European countries to release emergency diesel reserves amid rising global fuel prices, warning that a refusal could lead to a ban on US diesel exports to key European markets. The move comes amid increasing tensions over fuel supply disruptions exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
On Thursday, officials from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland engaged in emergency discussions to explore the possibility of unlocking strategic diesel inventories. The talks followed President Donald Trump’s warning that the US might halt diesel exports to Germany and France unless these countries agree to release significant quantities of their emergency stockpiles. The White House is reportedly pressing for around 120 million barrels of diesel, part of a total European emergency stockpile of 315 million barrels, to be made available over the next six months.
The US administration has expressed frustration with France and Germany, accusing them of not fully fulfilling earlier commitments to provide additional oil and petroleum reserves. White House officials have emphasized the importance of cooperation, stating that it is “in Europe’s best interest” to coordinate with the US to ease supply pressures and reduce fuel prices, which have surged amid conflicts involving Iran and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The UK government is closely monitoring the situation, with Chancellor John Healey describing the threat of an export ban as "very serious." Although it is unclear whether the UK would be directly affected by any US restrictions, British officials have reportedly sought assurances and are lobbying for exemptions if a ban is implemented. The UK imports approximately 55 percent of its diesel, with nearly one-third sourced from the US, making American supplies particularly important for maintaining fuel availability. Diesel prices in the UK recently crossed the £2-per-litre mark, a record high attributed to global supply strain.
European leaders have thus far resisted calls to unlock emergency reserves, citing concerns about leaving their countries vulnerable to shortages during the upcoming winter. Instead, they favor negotiating a broader international agreement, possibly coordinated by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which previously managed large-scale releases of oil products earlier in the year. The EU trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, warned that a US export ban could severely impact European economic performance.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by the disruption of fuel supplies from the Middle East and China, compounded by reduced Russian diesel exports partly due to targeted attacks on oil infrastructure in Ukraine. This has intensified Europe’s dependence on US diesel, following the EU’s ban on Russian energy imports.
The UK’s Department for Energy Security emphasized that the country maintains a “diverse and resilient” fuel supply and continues to collaborate with international partners and the domestic fuel industry to manage the crisis. Meanwhile, political figures in the UK have criticized past domestic energy policies for contributing to the country’s heavy reliance on foreign diesel.
As fuel prices continue to climb globally, the US administration’s potential export ban represents a significant escalation in efforts to address rising costs ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections. Officials in both Washington and Europe are currently evaluating options to stabilize supplies and mitigate economic fallout from the fuel shortages.