Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Miami Summit on Tuesday, Uzi Yemin, Chairman of the Board of Delek US Holdings, argued that the ongoing crises in Iran and Venezuela are, at their core, driven by global energy dynamics.
Yemin noted that the United States, despite producing approximately 13 million barrels of oil per day and ranking as the world’s largest oil producer, remains heavily dependent on external energy sources. “The United States consumes roughly 20% of the world’s energy,” he said. “That demand must be met in part by imports from other countries.”
He added that energy considerations are playing a significant role in the domestic political discourse ahead of the midterm elections. According to Yemin, the prevailing narrative in the United States is that Donald Trump is seeking to reduce energy costs for American consumers, whether by enabling Venezuelan oil exports or by refraining from fully restricting Iranian oil supplies.
Turning to Delek US Holdings’ business performance, Yemin attributed the company’s success to persistence, discipline, and a long-term investment philosophy. “When opportunities arose during market downturns, we often chose to act,” he said. “We invested with the understanding that this is a long-term journey. It is a marathon, not an effort to generate quick returns.”
Yemin contrasted American and Israeli business cultures, suggesting that U.S. companies tend to emphasize long-term planning, while some Israeli firms focus on rapid monetization. “America is not a startup nation,” he remarked. “It is a country where you run a marathon.”
At the same time, he emphasized the strategic value of cultural integration in an increasingly global business environment. “As companies become more global, the ability to blend cultures becomes critical,” Yemin said. “American business culture excels at forward planning, while Israelis are exceptionally strong problem-solvers. Combining these strengths can produce highly successful organizations.”
In closing, Yemin addressed the position of smaller regional energy producers such as Israel, Cyprus, and Egypt within the global energy market. He stressed that these countries must adapt to rapidly changing conditions. “They need to recognize that they are small players in a vast global market,” he said, “and remain agile in order to capitalize on the opportunities available to them.”
Written in collaboration with Delek US Holdings