Joe Biden just gave a precious gift to the Russian President, making the EU angry

Assessing the US decision to ban the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Foreign Policy magazine said on February 4 that President Joe Biden gave a precious gift to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and angered the European Union (EU).

Storage tanks and gas chillers at Freeport LNG, the second-largest US liquefied natural gas exporter in Texas, February 2023. (Source: Reuters)

“The Biden administration’s decision has angered Republicans and alarmed foreign allies increasingly dependent on US energy… The halt has caused consternation around the world,” the newspaper wrote.

Foreign Policy notes that President Biden is undermining global energy security and undermining efforts to help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

Last week, President Biden said the US would suspend approval of new LNG export contracts due to climate change.

The decision has drawn fierce criticism from Republicans.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson called this outrageous, because according to him, Mr. Biden is “strengthening Russia” and pushing Europe into a state of dependence on this country.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, the EU has been aiming to wean itself off Russian gas and liquefied natural gas. However, Russian LNG exports to the region are set to increase in 2023. Some European countries have even allowed their ports to transship or re-export Russian LNG.

Russian LNG exports to the EU hit an all-time high of 1.75 million tonnes in November 2023. Previously, the highest month for Russian LNG exports to the EU was December 2022, with 1.737 million tonnes, according to energy and shipping data firm Kpler.

The two European countries that bought the most Russian liquefied natural gas last month were France and Belgium. They sourced LNG from the Yamal Peninsula and the town of Vysotsk, supplied by Russia’s second-largest gas producer, Novatek.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/foreign-policy-ong-joe-biden-vua-tang-mot-mon-qua-quy-cho-tong-thong-nga-khien-eu-tuc-gian-259975.html