On Sunday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance is “concerned” with the European Union’s reliance on Russia for natural gas imports amid Western claims that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine.
“We are concerned about the energy situation in Europe because it demonstrates the vulnerability of being too dependent on one supplier of natural gas and that’s the reason why NATO allies agree that we need to work and focus on diversification of supplies,” Stoltenberg said.
The EU relies on Russia for about a third of its natural gas supply. This fact complicates Washington’s plans to potentially impose crippling sanctions on Russia that would aim to isolate the country from the global financial system. The US is in talks with Gulf countries to divert gas to Europe in the event of sanctions or a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Over the past few months, there have been rumors that Russian President Vladimir Putin might cut Europe’s gas supplies off. But that would be detrimental to Russia’s economy, which relies on energy exports. Even President Biden recognized this in comments during a recent press conference.
“Everybody talks about how Russia has control over the energy supply that Europe absorbs … I don’t see that as a one-way street. They go ahead and cut it off — it’s like my mother used to say: ‘You bite your nose off to spite your face,'” he said. “It’s not like they have all these wonderful choices out there.”
The fact that Russia and the EU rely on trading with each other so much makes war in Eastern Europe less likely. Germany and Russia are looking to boost their trade relationship through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
It shows that trade between countries for their mutual benefits could be a peacemaker. Use it to impose sanctions has the opposite effect and may even lead to war.
It seems to me that the US draws sanctions like a gun…
“But that would be detrimental to Russia’s economy, which relies on energy exports.” Not by much. Russia can easily sell it’s gas and oil to the Far East. Energy exports are something like 10-15% of the Russian economy.
Oil & Gas Share Of Russia’s GDP Dropped To 15% In 2020
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Oil-Gas-Share-Of-Russias-GDP-Dropped-To-15-In-2020.html
Also, the US isn’t going to replace Russian gas to the EU from anywhere else. That’s pretty much already been established by experts in the oil and gas industry.
Translation: US petroleum companies want the military to eliminate Russian competition.
I am not sure I understand that. Which of thecworkd’s largest oil or gas countries US energy companies control today. Not Saudi Arabia, selling bulk if its oil to China, and it is Audi ownec. Same other gulf states. Qatar already told US that it dies not have enough.
And Russian ling-term gas contract avg price is $260, vs gas spot market that recently hit a cool $2,000 fot the same quantity.
But there is a method to the madness.
Israeli Levistan gas field, aka sanitized name — East Mediterranean gas. Lebsnin is disputing Israel’s rights — and we know what is happening there. Since Turkey effectively put a blick on pipeline going aling its coast to Greece, this “more friendly gas” could not get there on time before Nord Stream was competed.
Now a turn — suddenly after attackung Turkey’s currency for the fifth time, sanctions and spinsoring a coup — US wants to play nuce.
You see, Turkey has this large gas pipelune netwotk. There is ine from Azerbaijan accross Georgia. Earlier ine from Russia called Blue Stream. Then another one calked Turk Stream, now connected via Bulgaria to Serbia and Hungary.
Here is the catch. These pipes now carry Russian gas to Europe via Turkey. But EU forced all countries to build their sections of pipe with EU loans -/ so that EU can dictate in the future whose gas they carry — no freedom there.
And the latest news, Usrael’s Prime Munister is heading to Turkey. after US uncceremoniously dumped Greece as the terminus for the planned Israeli pipeline, Thus — a proosal is coming to Turkey to approve connection between Israel and Turkey vvia sea pipeline — so that Turkey can then take it to Europe via existing. Network of pipelunes. If course at the expense of Russian gas! And guess what will Bukgaria and Serbia be told? To accelt Jsraeli gas only — of course.
Now this cannor replace Nird Stream cspacity — but would be a propaganda coup. US will be leaning kn Qatar and Iraq to cinnect pipelines to Turkey, increase capacity of pipelines — snd add quantity.
Now I believe Turkey will guve this a serious attention. But it will happen inly when hell freezes over, or after Israel returns land to Palestinians — which is about same.
In the meantime, there willl be plenty of talkung, and talking,
The fact that EU and Russia are able to hurt each other economically is a source of stability. The urge to make yourself more secure by removing these dependencies is a source of instability and therefore of insecurity , which…
Removing dependencies is so easily seen as merely a good thing, and not just on the international stage.
Stoltenberg talks about diversification which could be acceptable except that actually he doesn’t.
“amid Western claims that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine.”
Please stop repeating these tired lies.
The USA wants everyone to depend on it for “security”. Look at all its wonderful war winning in Korea, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Afganistan….What a great defender!!!