Abstract
To counter phantom oil, ad hoc responses are not enough; what is needed is a systematic, coherent framework that integrates technical tools, legal enforcement, institutional capacity, and international cooperation into a phased, adaptive strategy. Isolated interventions—such as fuel marking, satellite tracking, or police crackdowns—may offer temporary disruption but fail to address the underlying incentives, regulatory gaps, and geopolitical dynamics that enable phantom oil networks to thrive. In response, this paper introduces a targeted strategic framework inspired by principles from The Art of War. It combines technological solutions, legal instruments, and cross-border coordination into a unified model designed to help policymakers—particularly in resource-constrained contexts—prioritize actions, recognize interdependencies, and scale interventions effectively across diverse markets and jurisdictions.
