World affairs, namely an illegal Russian invasion into Ukraine, compounded by limited domestic natural gas resources, have upended the entire European continent’s energy security, markets, and balance of power.

It’s a cautionary tale for America and other nations. It has forced many to take a hard look at the energy policies they have in place to ensure their citizens have access to affordable, reliable energy—while simultaneously protecting them from unstable and/or hostile regimes like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

For many years, Germany strove to set an example on responsible energy transition. Had Russia not intervened, Germany had planned to shut down coal-fired power plants by the end of the year and transition from Russian gas to renewables. Given the current state of affairs, Germany is now forced to reverse course and return to coal, as Russia has cut off the country’s gas supplies. In fact, Germany’s energy crisis has gotten so dire that officials are telling citizens to prepare for blackouts and to “wear two sweaters” to withstand the winter.

Germany is not alone in this plight. The United Kingdom is headed toward an unprecedented crisis, with energy bills expected to increase 80 percent this winter due to the lack of natural gas. The country had banned fracking in 2019 and had been relying on imports of natural gas from Russia. Now it is reversing policy to increase domestic supply and further the country’s energy security.

Countries without oil or natural gas reserves, such as those in Eastern Europe, have been focused on building their import infrastructure to receive more American liquid natural gas, even paying a premium to wean themselves off Russian gas.

The question European countries are grappling with is whether they can survive without Russian gas? And more so, can they hold Russia accountable for its war crimes while being dependent on its gas reserves?

While we encourage the exploration of alternative solutions, all these factors call into question the zeal to transition to renewable energy in a rushed, harried fashion. They demonstrate that such decisions could have lasting foreign policy impacts both domestically and abroad.

America finds itself at a similar crossroads. With high gasoline prices, a fractured relationship with OPEC, and limited drilling capacity, America may find itself in a similar long-term position as Europe.

But all of this is avoidable—if our country supports domestic production of oil and natural gas, as well as remaining committed to maintaining historical frameworks for American energy exports, as well as continued free access to energy exports.

When it comes to energy, it is vital that America reduce trade barriers and create predictable and transparent environments for investing and trading among allied nations.

Free trade allows U.S. companies to export products, including crude oil, refined products, and natural gas. It also helps bolster our alliance with allies like Israel, facilitate strategic deals like the Abraham Accords, and enhances America’s standing overseas. America’s status as an energy superpower and leader in exports can provide a counterweight against these hostile neighbors in the Middle East. But we must ensure that our country continues to support both domestic production of oil and natural gas—and the export and free trade of our resources to the allies that need it the most.

The top producers of oil in the world are the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. The top producers of natural gas are the United States, Russia, and Iran. We must look at the ongoing situation in Europe to understand what we can do differently.

It is safe to assume that our allies—including European nations—should be getting their energy from the United States and avoid being reliant on hostile actors overseas.

Tony Coelho was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978 to 1989 representing a district in central California as a Democrat. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Council for a Secure America.

Martin Frost served 26 years as a Congressman from the 24th District of Texas (Dallas-Ft. Worth) from 1979 to 2005 as a Democrat. He serves as Secretary and Director for the Council for a Secure America.

The views expressed in this article are the writers’ own.