After escaping Russian energy dependence, Europe is locking itself in to US LNG
6 hours ago
- #Energy Dependence
- #EU-US Relations
- #Climate Policy
- Europe is shifting from Russian energy dependence to long-term reliance on US LNG, with a $750 billion investment deal criticized by MEPs.
- EU Commission President von der Leyen faces backlash for hypocrisy on climate goals while dismantling past legislation and signing the US LNG deal.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright admits the LNG infrastructure will create long-term dependency, contradicting EU claims of a short-term measure.
- Building LNG infrastructure (terminals, pipelines) locks Europe into decades of use, undermining renewable energy investments and climate targets.
- EU gas demand is declining due to renewables and warmer winters, making new LNG infrastructure potentially unnecessary and wasteful.
- The US warns the deal is not symbolic—failure to invest risks tariff increases, pressuring Europe to commit despite reduced need for LNG.
- Critics argue Europe has already reduced Russian gas imports and doesn’t need US LNG, with Bruegel’s report supporting this view.
- The rush to build LNG infrastructure risks repeating past mistakes of energy dependence, this time on the US instead of Russia.