US pledges significantly more liquefied natural gas to EU – politics

US President Joe Biden has promised the European Union that the US will send at least 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas to Europe this year, more than previously planned. In a joint statement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, she stressed: “We certainly do not want to support Putin’s aggressive attack on Ukraine by buying his power.” Exports of 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas this year could ensure a “secure, transparent energy supply for the future”. America wanted to help Europe gain independence from Russian gas.

In the long term, as emphasized by Biden and van der Leyen, the volume of liquefied natural gas is to be increased to 50 billion cubic meters per year. According to the commission, this would replace a third of current gas imports from Russia.

“You know we want to reduce our dependence on Russia,” van der Leyen said. This can be achieved through investments in renewable energy and additional gas supplies, including LNG supplies. The US commitment to 15 billion cubic meters is the first big step in that direction. “We’re taking a step away from Russia toward suppliers we can trust.”

According to the EU Commission, the new deal will cover one-tenth of Russian gas supplies to the EU this year. Accordingly, the EU imports 155 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia per year – 40 percent of the gas consumed in the EU.

Von der Leyen had already announced on Thursday that the EU and the US would “present a new chapter in our energy partnership”. Liquefied natural gas is to be transported to Europe by tanker ships. Deliveries are initially scheduled to fill European gas storage facilities before the coming winter. Von der Leyen said it was about securing energy supplies in the long term. The president of the European Commission stressed that the agreement between the EU and the US also shows the strength of Western democracies. “Putin is trying to turn back the clock to another era,” he said, hoping to fail.