It’s time to drill for peace.

Let’s call it what it is: all wars are energy wars…

From the invasion of Iraq to the scramble over South China Sea shipping lanes, to today’s brutal war in Ukraine—who controls the energy, controls the power. 

And when it comes to energy, oil is still king. Despite all the talk of renewables and decarbonization, the world still runs on hydrocarbons. 

Planes, tanks, ships, trucks, and industrial supply chains don’t run on good vibes and solar panels—they run on oil.

That’s why, if the West wants to stand up to old-world dictators like Vladimir Putin, it needs to do more than send aid or freeze assets…. 

It needs to hit where it hurts. Not with bullets or bombs, but with barrels—barrels of cheap, reliable oil. 

And the only nation in the world that can supply those barrels in meaningful volume and speed? The United States of America.

The Real Power Behind the Kremlin

Last week, Russia shocked the world when it released footage from a new drone factory that’s pumping out weapons of war at an incredible pace…

Last year, Russia could barely get 2,000 drones to the battlefield in an entire month. With this factory, it could potentially get 2,000 drones attacking Ukrainian citizens in a single night…

That’s a powerful statistic that sends a clear message:

We need to stop pretending Putin’s power comes from his army or his propaganda machine. Because his true strength comes from a steady stream of oil and gas revenues… 

Hydrocarbons account for around half of Russia’s federal budget. They’re what funded the construction and operation of that new drone factory. But that’s not all they’ve paid for…

Literally every bomb dropped in Ukraine, every tank rolling through Donbas, every mercenary funded by the Kremlin—that’s all paid for in petrodollars.

Even with Western sanctions in place, Russia has managed to redirect its energy exports to willing buyers like China and India. 

And with global energy markets tight, those barrels are still fetching a solid price. 

The West may be cutting ties, but Russia’s still cashing checks. That’s the problem.

Energy is the lifeblood of Russia’s war machine. And you don’t stop that machine by just choking off supply. 

You have to flood the market with a cheaper, better alternative. 

That’s where American oil comes in…

Sanctions Alone Won’t Win This War

Don’t get me wrong—sanctions matter. But they’re only part of the puzzle. 

If you slap tariffs on Russian energy while offering no viable replacement, all you’ve done is shift the supply gap elsewhere… 

Energy prices rise. Europe panics. Putin profits.

We’ve seen it play out before… 

After the initial invasion of Ukraine, global oil prices spiked. Natural gas prices in Europe went parabolic. 

Households struggled, businesses closed, and governments were forced to backtrack on green energy goals just to keep the lights on.

The lesson is crystal clear: When energy is expensive and scarce, dictators thrive. When energy is cheap and abundant, democracies get stronger. 

So, if the goal is to undercut Putin, prop up Ukraine, and help our allies stand tall—we need to start pumping.

America’s Ace: Oil in the Ground and Know-How to Extract It

Here’s the good news: the U.S. has the energy muscle to do this. We’re not in the 1970s anymore… 

America is now one of the top oil producers on the planet, thanks to the shale revolution. 

Our basins in Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Colorado are packed with oil. And thanks to innovation, we can extract it cleaner, quicker, and cheaper than just about anyone else.

While Russia relies on aging infrastructure and state-run inefficiencies, American producers operate in a hyper-competitive market where the best tech wins. 

That means horizontal drilling, advanced fracking, carbon capture, real-time data analytics—you name it. The U.S. isn’t just producing oil, we’re redefining how it’s done.

What’s holding us back isn’t capability—it’s will… 

We’ve got the barrels. We’ve got the rigs. 

What we need now is the political and market support to let our producers off the leash.

Turning Oil into a Strategic Weapon

Let’s think bigger… 

Oil isn’t just a commodity—it’s a geopolitical tool. 

Just like we send tanks and missiles to Ukraine, we should be exporting oil with purpose. 

Every barrel of U.S. crude that makes it to Europe is one less barrel Europe needs from Russia. 

Every LNG tanker that lands in Poland or Germany helps break the Kremlin’s stranglehold on European energy.

And the beauty of American oil is that it’s not just abundant—it’s flexible… 

U.S. shale producers can ramp production up or down faster than their international counterparts. That gives us a unique advantage in an increasingly volatile world.

By strategically expanding production and exports, the U.S. can support allies, stabilize global markets, and defund dictators—all without firing a shot.

Reclaiming Leadership in the Global Energy Game

For too long, we’ve let others call the shots in the energy world…

OPEC manipulates supply. Russia weaponizes it. China hoards critical minerals. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. has sat on its hands, distracted by partisan politics and regulatory gridlock.

But times have changed. Energy security is now national security… 

Europe knows it. Asia knows it. And increasingly, Americans are waking up to it too.

The question isn’t whether we should produce more energy. The question is: do we want the free world to be powered by democratic oil or dictated by autocratic oil?

Because like it or not, someone’s going to meet that demand. It might as well be us.

And that means investing not only in production, but in pipelines, export terminals, refining capacity, and long-term energy infrastructure that positions the U.S. as the go-to supplier for the free world.

A Wake-Up Call for Investors

Here’s where things get really interesting. This isn’t just good for global stability—it’s a money-making opportunity hiding in plain sight…

While Wall Street chases AI hype and EV headlines, some of the best-performing assets of the next decade could be old-fashioned oil and gas stocks. But not just the majors. 

The biggest leverage is found in the independents—the companies operating on lean budgets, cutting-edge tech, and some of the lowest breakeven costs in the world.

Think Diamondback Energy in the Permian…

Devon Energy in Oklahoma… 

Prairie Operating Company in the DJ Basin…

These are the firms sitting on world-class resources and ready to unleash them when the market—and the mission—demand it.

If investors are looking for a place to align profits with purpose, U.S. oil might just be it.

Pump More. Fight Less.

No one wants war. But wars don’t end just because we wish them away. 

They end when power shifts. And in today’s world, power flows through pipelines.

The war in Ukraine is far from over. But the tools to turn the tide are already in our hands. 

With smart policy, strong investment, and a renewed sense of mission, the U.S. can use its energy advantage to drive peace, stability, and freedom.

It won’t happen overnight. But history shows that when America puts its mind to something—and its oil rigs behind it—it can change the world.

Let’s do it again.

The Bottom Line

If you believe in peace through strength, then it’s time to support the companies that are helping power that strength. 

Learn more about the U.S. oil producers that are ready to outproduce Russia, defend democracy, and deliver serious upside to investors along the way.

Because the war won’t wait. And neither should we.

Disclosure: Neither The Investment Journal nor the author have a financial position in any of the companies mentioned in this article. An affiliate of The Investment Journal has been retained for marketing services by Prairie Operating Co. ( NASDAQ: PROP ) between July 2025 and September 2025; however, this is not a sponsored post. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities.