Masha Kotkin

Fellow, Energy Security and Climate Change Program
Masha Kotkin

Masha Kotkin is a fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She is an expert in geopolitics, energy economics, and commercial diplomacy in the Middle East. She spent over 10 years at the State Department, most recently as an energy advisor on North Africa. She served in Turkey, Jordan, and on temporary duty in Poland. Before joining the State Department, she worked as a competition economist at EconOne and Nathan Associates. The Stimson Center, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Observer Research Foundation Middle East, and the Arab Gulf States Institute published her analysis. She has provided expert commentary to Reuters and the Financial Times, as well as on news networks. Ms. Kotkin speaks Russian, Arabic, Turkish, and Ukrainian. She holds an MA from Johns Hopkins School of International Studies and a BA from New York University.

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Amid Iran War Tensions, Energy Market Resilience Wears Thin

Fresh attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East may push regional leaders to build the first post-U.S. security arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz. As U.S. voters head to the polls in a few weeks, an expensive war linked to affordability concerns will be top of mind.

Commentary by Masha Kotkin — September 18, 2026

Six Charts to Explain the Global Energy Crisis

The conflict with Iran continues to redraw the energy map. Six charts show how major producers and consumers are stabilizing markets through reserve releases, lower imports, and increased U.S. production of oil, gas, and helium.

Commentary by Joseph Majkut, Masha Kotkin, Caroline Russell, and Alex Garcia — September 17, 2026