Trump may use gas exports as political tool against Russia

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

U.S. President Donald Trump will speak in favor of increasing supplies of American natural gas to Europe at a meeting with the leaders of European countries in Warsaw.

Trump will announce that Washington intends to make it as easy as possible for U.S. companies to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe at a meeting in the Polish capital scheduled for July 6, Reuters reported.

Republicans, many of whom stand for a tough stance towards Russia, support the use of gas exports as a political tool.

In recent years, Moscow has cut off gas shipments during pricing disputes with neighboring countries in winter months. Exports from the United States would help reduce their dependence on Russia.

Increased U.S. gas exports to the region would help weaken the impact of Russia using energy as a weapon or bargaining chip, said a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Jones.

"I think the United States can show itself as a benevolent country by exporting energy and by helping countries that don’t have adequate supplies become more self-sufficient and less dependent and less threatened," he noted.

The U.S. is expected to become the world's third-largest exporter of LNG in 2020, just four years after starting up its first export terminal.

At the same time, the glut of the market may, despite all Trump's efforts, limit the growth of U.S. energy exports, the authors emphasize. In addition, Russia has a number of advantages in the European market - its relative geographical proximity and the availability of pipelines.

Europe also expects that Trump will clarify Washington's position on Nord Stream-2, a gas pipeline that is planned to be built across the Baltic Sea to Germany. The U.S. Senate in June approved new sanctions against Moscow, threatening European companies with fines for participating in joint projects with Russia.

Germany's government supports the pipeline, and Trump's position on it is a concern for European diplomats.