Washington Post: Biden-Europeans to mammoth deal to supply US LNG to Europe

LAST UPDATE: 20.04

US President Joe Biden and European leaders are expected to announce a major initiative to immediately bring US liquefied natural gas (LNG) production to Europe during a visit to Brussels as part of a broader effort to reduce Europe’s dependence. by Russian energy, according to the Washington Post, which cites three knowledgeable US officials.

According to the Financial Times, this is an additional amount of 15 billion cubic meters by the end of 2022 alone.

President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hope to announce the agreement on Friday morning.

The announcement, an attempt to deprive Russia of a lever of pressure as it continues to bomb Ukraine, will signal an unusual move to reshape the global energy situation. A change that could have an impact long after the end of the war. The move comes as European officials have called on the United States to do more to help Europe reduce its dependence on Russia for oil and gas.

Biden is also expected to announce additional sanctions against Moscow from Brussels – where he is attending NATO, G7 and European Union summits – as well as further measures to combat the circumvention of existing sanctions.

The sanctions are expected to hit members of the Russian parliament, defense companies and subsidiaries, as well as additional sectors of the Russian economy, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The same sources warned that the design is fluid and subject to change.

Overall, the expected actions by the US and Europe are tantamount to escalating the US-led push for a US-led invasion of Russia as it continues its war against Ukraine.

The LNG initiative, the details of which have not yet been finalized, will be announced on Friday, when Biden will meet with Commission President Ursula von der Layen in Brussels before leaving for Poland.

In a statement yesterday, von der Leyen said all EU members “can help reduce our dependence on Russian gas” and added that this was an issue she intended to discuss with Biden on her first day. during his visit to Brussels on Thursday.

“Tomorrow, I will discuss with President Biden how to prioritize US LNG deliveries to the European Union in the coming months,” said von der Leyen. “Our goal is to have a commitment to additional supplies for the next two winters.”

Germany invests in LNG stations

Meanwhile, on Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Soltz, referring to the issue of energy, in his statements after the extraordinary NATO summit, stressed that Germany will start building liquefied natural gas (LNG) import units as early as this year, a comment that It also demonstrates Berlin’s intention to step up its efforts to rid the country of Russian gas.

The German chancellor even added on the occasion of this announcement that the USA is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, a comment that is obviously related to the promoted agreement between the USA and the EU for the supply of LNG from the United States.