The EU has been struggling for three years and found that Russia's supplied natural gas is still reliable. Trump's tariff stick inadvertently brought a strategic opportunity to Russia?

(Some people in Europe are re-proposing the import of Russian gas)

Reuters reported that recently, European companies have revived the idea of buying Russian gas. And they had this idea for two reasons.

Firstly, European companies believe that Trump is shaking up the transatlantic relationship established after World War II and using energy as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations.

Not long ago, Trump signed an executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. trading partners, with the EU facing a 20% high tariff. Although Trump temporarily put this policy on hold, it doesn't mean that the threat to the EU has disappeared.

The EU must reach a trade agreement with the U.S. within the 90-day period given by Trump to avoid the 20% reciprocal tariff. However, Trump's terms are quite stringent.

Trump once publicly complained that European countries did not purchase enough American goods, believing that expanding EU imports of American energy would be key to resolving the trade deficit between the two sides. Trump immediately demanded that the EU buy at least $350 billion worth of American natural gas to reduce the trade deficit between the two sides.

(European companies are worried about being held hostage by Trump through energy)

Originally, after the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Europe followed the U.S. and almost cut off economic cooperation with Russia. The U.S. liquefied natural gas quickly filled the market gap left by Russian gas. Now, the Trump administration is demanding that the EU expand its imports of American natural gas. European companies are now very concerned that dependence on American energy will become a vulnerability.

In the coming years, the U.S. may frequently use energy cooperation to threaten the EU, control the EU, and force the EU to submit to the U.S.

Secondly, the EU's choices are limited because their negotiations with Qatar, a major liquefied natural gas supplier, have stalled. Although the deployment of renewable energy in the EU has accelerated, it still cannot eliminate their unease in the short term.

Compared to this, there are already laid pipelines between Russia and Europe, and there are unfinished gas supply agreements. Directly importing natural gas from Russia is obviously the most convenient and cost-effective way.

Olivier Terneaux, executive vice president of French energy group Engie, revealed that if peace is achieved in Ukraine, the annual supply of Russian gas may quickly recover to 60 billion cubic meters, or even 70 billion cubic meters.

Therefore, a voice emerged in Europe: importing some Russian natural gas might be a good idea.

(Leuna Chemical Park in eastern Germany)

Günther Rentsch, general manager of InfraLeuna, the operator of one of Germany's largest chemical parks, Leuna Chemical Park in eastern Germany, said that the German chemical industry has been cutting jobs for five consecutive quarters, which has never happened in the past few decades. Reopening the Russian gas pipeline would cost less than all current subsidy programs, and they are in a severe crisis and can't wait any longer.

Rentsch also added that although buying Russian gas again is a taboo topic, many of his colleagues think it is necessary.

Reuters described that these words coming from Europe were unimaginable a year ago. The revival of purchasing Russian gas in Europe may indicate that Europe will make significant policy changes regarding cooperation with Russia. After three years of struggle, the EU ultimately found that Russia's supplied natural gas is reliable. Will they return to the starting point?

It seems that Trump's tariff policies inadvertently helped Russia, giving it another strategic opportunity to restore normal economic cooperation with Europe.

However, we know that the Ukraine-Russia conflict has lasted for three years, and Russia and Europe have been in direct confrontation for three years. It is not easy for Europe to completely feel safe about importing energy from Russia.

(Russia and Europe have been in direct confrontation for three years, making it difficult to restore cooperation)

Some European energy companies still believe that even if Europe cannot overly depend on American natural gas, it will not rely on Russian energy like before. They need diversified and multi-channel supplies.

At the same time, some European politicians will not easily agree to resume energy cooperation with Russia. The current Ukraine-Russia conflict is ongoing, and as the U.S. gradually withdraws from its main role in aiding Ukraine, this burden falls on Europe. They still view Russia as an enemy, not only have they not lifted sanctions against Russia but are also studying how to intensify sanctions. They explicitly prohibit European companies from cooperating with Russia.

Moreover, considering the EU's style of operation, they are currently under heavy pressure from the U.S., so they are recalling the benefits of Russian gas. But if the U.S. reduces the pressure on the EU, they will inevitably bow down to the U.S. again.

This is both an opportunity and full of resistance for Russia. Taking advantage of this to earn more euros may be the limit. Clearly, Russia no longer expects any major changes from Europe. Cooperation with Europe is no longer a priority for Russia's economic development, so if Europe is willing to accept U.S. extortion and spend more to buy American natural gas, it is their own business.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493470464650347043/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. You can express your attitude by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.