The U.S.-EU trade deal: A strategic victory

OPINION:

Energy is a global market, and volatility follows anytime chaos, war or natural disaster strikes. Although energy markets can depend on these scenarios globally, countries must do their best to insulate themselves from supply shocks. Europe still grapples with the aftereffects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its impacts on the continent’s natural gas and oil supply.

As President Trump continues to broker peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, the U.S. should continue robust natural gas exports to Europe to strengthen our allies’ energy and national security.

Although Europe continues to wean itself off Russian gas, the European Union purchased $26 billion of Russian energy in 2024. This trend cannot continue, and the latest U.S.-EU trade deal is a welcome wake-up call for its promise of economic stability and its critical role in securing a more promising energy future.

The U.S.-EU trade deal is more than a trade agreement. It’s a strategic victory for American energy. What’s most surprising about the agreement is that it was accomplished only after a criminal invasion of Ukraine, global economic sanctions on Russia, an enormous economic burden on the EU and NATO nations to support Ukraine’s fight for its sovereignty, seemingly unending chaos in the Middle East and a new U.S. administration. Sadly, crisis seems to be the only incentive for change.

The trans-Atlantic trade relationship is evolving beyond tariffs and quotas, extending into a coordinated framework built on fair and reciprocal competition, standards and, most important, energy security. By placing American natural gas at the core of the agreement, the deal offers both sides the resilience needed to withstand future disruptions and the leverage to push back against energy coercion from adversarial powers.

During this era of geopolitical turbulence, strategic trade diplomacy has taken center stage. The energy components of this trade deal help streamline regulatory coordination, incentivize joint infrastructure investment and create stable long-term frameworks for natural gas imports from the U.S. to Europe. It also paves the way for trans-Atlantic cooperation on nuclear technologies, reinforcing a practical, scalable and sustainable path forward.

It’s also a full-throttle endorsement of U.S. energy production, transportation and ingenuity. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, many policymakers in Brussels had sworn off fossil fuels, favoring their own grand version of a Green New Deal. This reality of war without end has forced their hand.

The stakes are high. Energy volatility is not hypothetical; it’s a certainty that will undoubtedly return. This agreement helps insulate both continents from the wild price swings and political leverage of unstable supply chains. For the United States, the economic benefits are immediate and long-lasting: job creation at home in industries such as energy, technology, logistics and manufacturing.

Natural gas is at the heart of this partnership and must be recognized as a realistic and responsible energy cornerstone for this transition. U.S. natural gas is the most stringently regulated and environmentally sound energy source worldwide. Prioritizing American supply over other global producers ensures higher standards, greater transparency and greater alignment.

Exporting liquefied natural gas will help deliver economic strength and geopolitical stability, serving as a deterrent against those who weaponize energy as a tool of coercion. However, action must match policy for this historic agreement to reach its full potential. The Energy Department must rise to the occasion and enact swift approval of projects in the Gulf of America, such as the Lake Charles LNG project, that are capable of meeting rising energy demand. Recognizing this, the Department of Energy recently granted Lake Charles LNG an extension to export LNG to non-free trade agreement countries in order to meet surging demand. The facility is strategically located along Louisiana’s Calcasieu Ship Channel and offers a significant cost advantage, enabling the U.S. to deliver reliable, lower-cost energy to global allies.

The Energy Department should also streamline the review and permitting process for other terminals, such as Commonwealth LNG, which is positioned to meet trans-Atlantic energy needs. These investments aren’t just about capacity; they keep their promises, strengthen alliances and anchor America’s energy future in innovation and reliability. Developing supportive infrastructure to connect inland gas production to coastal export terminals must be expedited to ensure an efficient supply chain.

In an era of rising instability, the U.S.-EU trade deal proves that smart energy policy can drive economic growth, reinforce strategic partnerships and build resilience against authoritarian threats. This is about a resurgence in national production across all industries at a time of increased existential national security challenges. America has the capacity to lead by using political will and energy resources. A safer and more stable world is achievable by placing natural gas at the epicenter of energy diplomacy, aligning trade with long-term security interests and investing in American infrastructure.

• James “Spider” Marks is a retired U.S. Army major general and president of the Marks Collaborative, an advisory firm dedicated to the development and transformation of corporate leaders and their organizations.