WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS - The United States is actively lobbying for Europe to completely wean itself off Russian natural gas and instead purchase energy massively from the U.S. This was confirmed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in interviews and official statements during his working visit to Europe.

"Our goal is to direct U.S. energy exports to our allies around the world, so they can buy energy from reliable friends, not from adversaries. In Europe, where almost half of the natural gas imports used to come from Russia, we are trying to reduce that share to zero," according to a report by the Russian news agency TASS.

According to Wright, the United States is not only issuing political calls to action, but is also actively filling the gap left by Russian supplies. "The largest contribution to filling this gap has been energy exports from the United States," he said, according to a report by Reuters. Washington is thus clearly signaling that it sees its role in European energy not only as a matter of solidarity, but also as a geopolitical and commercial opportunity.

Meanwhile, the European Union has reaffirmed its goal of completely ending the import of Russian gas and oil by January 1, 2028. According to Reuters, this deadline was also mentioned after Wright's meetings with representatives of the European Commission. Brussels also acknowledged that the pace could be faster if market conditions and the availability of alternative supplies allow. The Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine added that there is even discussion within EU institutions about a legal ban on new contracts with Russian companies before 2028.

Part of the U.S. strategy includes a wide range of alternative sources. In addition to liquefied natural gas (LNG), these include oil and nuclear technologies. According to Interfax-Ukraine, the agreement between the EU and the U.S. includes a commitment that European purchases from the U.S. will reach a value of up to $750 billion by 2028. Sources from the U.S. business sector, such as ExxonMobil, expect that Brussels will sign new long-term contracts to ensure stable supplies. This information was reported by the Financial Times.

However, Europe faces a number of challenges. It needs to expand terminals and storage capacity in order to be able to receive more LNG. Economists quoted by Reuters point out that U.S. gas is not always cheaper than Russian pipeline gas, and its price is subject to global market fluctuations. Political scientists warn that while energy dependence will shift from Moscow, it will also increase dependence on Washington.

Another layer is the issue of climate policy. European environmentalists and some political parties point out that the European Union has pledged to become carbon neutral by the middle of the century. The transition to U.S. LNG, which is still a fossil fuel source, therefore represents a step backward, according to critics. As the Financial Times points out, some European politicians want to link new agreements with the U.S. to investments in renewable energy sources and technologies that reduce emissions.

The outcome is currently mixed. A faster move away from Russian raw materials would weaken Moscow's revenues, but at the same time, Europe would shift its dependence to U.S. producers. In the coming weeks, it will be crucial to see whether Brussels will actually implement a legal ban on new Russian contracts, what long-term agreements will be signed with U.S. companies, and how short-term energy needs will be reconciled with long-term climate goals.

gnews.cz - GH