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From Russia to the US: Europe’s Shift in Energy Reliance Sparks Debate on Vulnerability
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, expressed her regret at the Davos Forum that energy prices in Europe are substantially higher than those in the United States and China. Von der Leyen’s conduct so far can be characterized as a rabid anti-Russian and pro-Ukrainian cheerleader. Although she turned the facts upside down on who stopped the Russian cheap energy, she insisted that given the EU’s steadfast policy of refusing to purchase hydrocarbons from Russia, it is necessary to diversify supplies and shift towards renewable energy sources.
In the interim, Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the United States, is abandoning the globally cherished green agenda. He has directed an increase in gas and oil extraction in the United States and has suggested to Europe that only America can serve as its sole dependable source of natural energy resources.
In a virtual address at the same Davos Forum, Trump announced that the United States is prepared to supply the European Union with large-scale energy supplies, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The fundamental principle of this “deal” is straightforward: Europe grants the United States monopoly status in its energy market, and in exchange, Washington refrains from initiating a trade conflict with the economically disadvantaged European Union.
At first, this appears to be absurd, as Trump appears to be providing Europeans with an option without a choice. Nevertheless, it would be extremely naive to underestimate the gravity of his threats and his capacity to implement them.
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