Europe must not allow Russia to chip away at energy security gains

OPINION:

Eleven years after Russia used force to once more alter borders in Europe and three years into its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union is proposing to end all Russian gas imports by the end of 2027.

This step is long overdue, but it is a welcome development nonetheless. Russian gas is more harmful to the environment and is directly tied to corruption throughout Europe. Gas flows with Russian pipelines, but so do underhanded deals and influences. The move limits Russia’s ability to impose its energy coercion to bully its neighbors. With its strong trans-Atlantic ties, Poland can now become an energy hub for U.S. gas in the Three Seas region.

Europe is finally sending the right signal: It will no longer turn a blind eye to Russian aggression in exchange for artificially cheap fuel. Such a tragic policy, pursued after the Russian aggression against Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, has led to a full-scale war taking the lives of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers every day, destabilizing Europe, making energy prices skyrocket and threatening the security, prosperity and future of the continent.

Phasing out Russian gas and oil imports is key to the just and lasting peace that Europe seeks. Europe needs a “security first” posture, starting with defense investments and energy.

The United States is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. As such, it can help significantly reduce the amount of Russian gas piped throughout Europe. The Obama administration and the first Trump administration offered Europe a clear path to breaking its total reliance on Russian energy while strengthening Europe’s ties to our key ally. By reversing the Biden administration’s misguided ban on new LNG export permits, the Trump administration has reopened the door for Europe to displace Russian gas with American LNG.

During his visit to the recent Three Seas Summit hosted by Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that “U.S. supply will continue to grow in a meaningful way. There’s a lot of dialogue about contracts.” The Department of Energy recently greenlit several authorizations and extensions for U.S. LNG projects, allowing them to move forward and increase LNG exports to Europe. These include Venture Global’s CP2 facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, a vital project for global energy security. Europe, and particularly allied nations, should benefit immensely from CP2 coming online. Once completed, the facility is expected to contribute significantly to Europe’s LNG imports.

The Trump administration’s enthusiasm for approving LNG exports to allies worldwide should be welcomed in Europe. Europe’s silence when the Biden administration paused LNG export authorizations, citing climate change, was a mistake. Russian gas is more harmful to the environment and is soaked in blood.

Stronger action against Russia is necessary, and Europe should partner with like-minded allies such as the U.S. Completely banning Russian gas imports is a strong first step.

Poland, my home country, has been ahead of the curve on LNG. It was President Lech Kaczynski’s decision to build the LNG terminal in Swinoujscie. Just after the terminal became operational, we began importing from the U.S. in 2017, when I was a member of the Law and Justice government. Since then, this market has expanded tremendously, and it is only expected to grow.

Thanks to the conservative government’s decisions, Poland was prepared for the energy disruptions that resulted from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while the rest of Europe was left scrambling. Perhaps because of its unrealistic all-green ideology, the EU failed to impose a full ban on purchasing Russian LNG during the war.

With its existing infrastructure and willingness to invest in new projects, Poland can become an energy hub for U.S. gas in the Three Seas region. This is about security, prosperity and cementing our bond with the United States.

President Trump’s support for American LNG exports is key to Europe’s security and future. Even if the war in Europe is nearing its end, Russia will not change. European leadership must remain vigilant and not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let us forge stronger bonds with the U.S. and ensure our continent, Central and Eastern Europe in particular, can assert itself confidently on the global stage. That’s why leadership in Europe and Washington should unite to oppose the reopening of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline and any additional Russian energy infrastructure.

• Mariusz Kaminski is a member of the European Parliament. He is a former anti-communist activist, former interior minister in the Law and Justice government and former coordinator of the secret services of the Republic of Poland. He is also the founder and former head of the Polish government’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.