Senior US officials on Thursday called on European allies to accelerate the phasing out of Russian gas supplies by expanding regional pipeline networks and increasing imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG). TASR informs about it based on the AP report.
- The USA calls on the European Union to accelerate the termination of Russian gas supplies.
- During the negotiations, the Meeting in Greece focused on energy cooperation.
- The increase in US LNG imports is to compensate for the decrease in Russian supplies.
- Greece is considered a strategic entry point for US LNG.
- Exxon Mobil plans to explore deposits in the Ionian Sea.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joined more than 80 US officials, European Union (EU) energy ministers and representatives of LNG suppliers at talks in Greece hosted by the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank.
“The United States alone could replace all the Russian gas in Europe with what we are building,” said Burgum, indicating the strong intention of the US to fill the gap created by the reduction of supplies from Russia.
The push comes as President Donald Trump takes advantage of the U.S.’s position as the world’s largest LNG exporter, linking its supplies to trade ties with Europe and efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Burgum criticized European climate regulations. He argued that they could hamper energy partnerships and prevent the next wave of innovation and the development of energy-intensive artificial intelligence.
Since Europe is already the largest market for American LNG, attention has shifted to the so-called vertical corridor – a new north-south gas route that connects Greece with Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Export terminals near Athens and in northern Greece will play a key role. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that his country is a natural entry point for American LNG due to its unique geographical location. The vertical corridor could be key to helping Ukraine, which faces Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Following the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, EU members sought to adjust pipeline networks to replace Russian exports with LNG supplies from the US and other countries. The US Energy Secretary welcomed the European Commission’s plans to phase out all Russian gas supplies over the next two years. He recalled that it “starves the Russian war machine and at the same time contributes to building relations between European states and the USA”. “It has five gas pipelines that go to Europe and one gas pipeline that goes to China,” he said, referring to Russia.
Maksym Timchenko, CEO of Ukraine’s largest private energy producer DTEK, warned at a meeting in Athens of the difficulties that await his country during the winter. He called on the EU and the US to help supply gas and equipment to repair Ukraine’s energy grid.
American and Greek partners announced further investments in the Eastern Mediterranean on Thursday. Exxon Mobil, along with Greek companies Helleniq Energy and Energean, have confirmed plans to explore oil and gas deposits in the Ionian Sea as part of the US company’s broader strategy to expand energy capacity in the region.
