Senior US officials today urged European allies to accelerate the phasing out of Russian gas by expanding regional pipeline networks and increasing imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) across Europe.
US Secretary of the Interior Doug Bargam, who participated in a meeting of US officials, European Union (EU) energy ministers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) executives in Greece today, said that the US "can replace all of the Russian gas in Europe with what they are building," hinting at Washington's intention to fill the gap left by reduced supplies from Russia.
The American initiative comes as US President Donald Trump continues to exploit the US's position as the world's leading exporter of liquefied natural gas, linking the issue of energy supply to trade relations with Europe and efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
At the event, organized by the Washington-based non-governmental organization Atlantic Council, Bargam also criticized European climate regulations, saying they could thwart energy partnerships.
"There is no energy transition, there is only energy addition," said Bargam, noting that the "regulatory state" in Europe risks preventing the next wave of energy innovation and the development of artificial intelligence, which requires energy.
Europe is the largest market for US liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the focus has shifted to the so-called Vertical Corridor — a new north-south gas route connecting Greece with Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Export terminals near Athens and in northern Greece will play a key role.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said late last night that Greece is "blessed with a unique geographical position" and represents "a natural entry point for American liquefied natural gas to Europe."
US and European officials have said the Vertical Corridor could play a key role in helping war-torn Ukraine cope with relentless Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, EU members have been scrambling to modify pipeline networks to replace Russian gas with liquefied natural gas provided by the US and other major suppliers.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who also attended the meeting, welcomed the European Commission's plans to gradually phase out Russian gas supplies to the European Union over the next two years.
Wright said it would "both starve the Russian war machine and build growing relationships" between European countries and the US.
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