This thesis investigates how sustained economic growth functions as a pre‑condition for state power through the lens of U.S.–China energy relations between 2000 and 2023. Drawing on data from the International Energy Agency, BP Statistical Review, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the National Bureau of Statistics of China, and the World Bank, it applies a mixed‑methods comparative design. Quantitative indicators such as GDP growth, energy intensity, primary‑energy mix and trade balances are triangulated with qualitative process‑tracing of key policy documents—including U.S. shale legislation, Chinese Five‑Year Plans, and multilateral climate accords—to map causal pathways linking energy security to macroeconomic performance and geopolitical strategy. Findings show that China’s rapid decarbonization since 2016 has reduced its energy‑intensity gap with the United States by 22 %, while U.S. shale innovation improved its terms of trade and reopened export channels, reinforcing its structural power. However, self‑help strategies have also generated new interdependence risks—most visibly in critical mineral supply chains and renewable‑technology trade bans. The study concludes that collaborative R&D and coordinated standards for low‑carbon fuels constitute the most viable path to mitigating security dilemmas without compromising growth.