U.S. Natural Gas Will Not Curb Russian Influence

To try to mitigate Russian influence in Europe, members of the U.S. Congress have increased pressure on the White House to fast-track approvals of U.S. natural gas exports. Recently, Moscow has canceled discounts on natural gas exports to Ukraine to pressure Kiev over the situation in Crimea. The move highlighted Russia's strength as an energy exporter, which would not be threatened by increased U.S. natural gas exports.

While Washington certainly has an interest in countering Russian influence, it is limited in its ability to strategically deploy its own energy exports for geopolitical purposes. Instead, the United States will support projects that diversify energy supplies to countries in Russia's periphery, including Ukraine, to help ease their reliance on Russian energy.