Using threats and coercion, Donald Trump is bringing both European nations and extra Asian countries into alignment with America’s plans for exporting LNG natural gas. The U.S. officials candidly admit that removing trade barriers aims to create more time for talks where long-term gas supply agreements will play an essential role. Additionally, they aim to exert influence over major gas pipeline networks heading towards Europe.
Donald Trump is sticking to a strategy aimed at making America an energy superpower. He implemented this plan on his very first day in office by altering the relevant legislation.
unleashing the potential for expanded mining activities along with the development of additional gas fields and terminals.
The U.S. plans to double its present liquefied natural gas output by 2030. It’s now essential to secure new agreements and bolster its market standing.
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Harnessing threats and pressure
To achieve this, Trump employs both threats and pressure. By imposing steep tariffs on nearly the entire world and then suspending them for 90 days, he signaled that countries should use that time to make offers that would satisfy the USA. The key agreements are expected to include contracts for gas, armaments, or raw materials.
The requirements placed upon the U.S. president continue to grow. The European Union has affirmed its readiness to boost acquisitions of American liquefied natural gas at the cost of reducing present imports from Russia. Nonetheless, Trump introduced tariffs on Europe amounting to 20 percent.
During discussions, Ursula von der Leyen suggested a “zero-for-zero” custom pact concerning automobiles and various manufactured products. Nevertheless, when Trump was questioned regarding this proposal during a White House press briefing, he indicated that it did not meet his requirements.
According to Trump, the EU would need to agree to purchase
$350 billion worth of energy from the USA, which covers the complete trade deficit as calculated by his administration.
(although, in reality, the EU’s trade surplus in goods with the USA is about $150 billion).
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Given that in 2024 American natural gas accounted for 45 percent of total European Union imports, with energy purchases amounting to $13 billion, adhering to Trump’s requirements,
The EU would need to boost orders by almost 27 times.
At present, the European Union obtains natural gas from nations such as Qatar, Algeria, the USA, and Russia. The EU’s climate strategy envisions a steady decrease in the use of fossil fuels in favor of sustainable energy alternatives. Nonetheless, Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen stated in an interview with “The Financial Times” that “we have room to increase our purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US; however, these transactions must align with our goals for environmental transition.”
Not only Europe is feeling the strain.
Trump’s strategy is not limited to Europe
. LNG is also a lever for other countries.
Trump reportedly already discussed large purchases of American LNG with South Korea’s interim leader, Han Duck-soo, as reported last week by Bloomberg.
Japan has reportedly
lined up for American energy as well.
So far, the main suppliers to Japan have been Australia with 26.6 million tons (41 percent), Malaysia with 10.2 million tons (15.8 percent), and Russia with 6.3 million tons (9.7 percent). Meanwhile, the USA provided only 5.8 million tons (9 percent) of LNG.
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Bigger gas acquisitions from the U.S. have also been declared by them.
Indonesia, Thailand, and Taiwan.
Taiwan has announced that over the coming ten years, it might increase its share of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) threefold, raising it from the present 10% to 30%. Additionally, according to Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-Huei, government bodies may buy products valued at $6 billion from U.S. companies, as mentioned during his conversation with Bloomberg.
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have all stated their intention to consider investing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Alaska. The initiative is valued at $44 billion and has received backing from former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s fascination with Russian natural gas
Donald Trump’s proposals extend farther. The U.S. continues to hold the position as the globe’s leading liquefied natural gas exporter. This trend was evident in 2024.
The United States exported 88.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Dr. Szymon Kardas, an expert affiliated with the European Council on Foreign Relations, argues that there are strong grounds for the U.S. to keep sanctions imposed on Russia. This includes restrictions related to Western technology which have successfully thwarted Moscow’s earlier goals regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) production before the war began. It should be noted that as per the Russian Federation’s Energy Strategy up to 2035—a plan established in 2020—Russia was striving towards expanding its role in the global LNG market.
produce between 80 and even 140 million tons of LNG annually, with up to 91 million tons in the Arctic alone.
“Today’s competitors for American LNG are the Qataris, Australians, and a few countries in Africa, but not Russia,” explains Kardas.
True, Russian LNG is still purchased by some European countries, but it cannot be re-exported further in the world due to EU sanctions. Also, the largest recipients of Russian LNG, China and India, are limiting imports.
“The Russians have hit a wall. They have Yamal LNG in Europe operating at maximum parameters and small installations controlled by Gazprom in Portovaya and the terminal in Vysotsk owned by Novatek.
This year signifies the conclusion of the pipeline gas delivery agreement via Lithuania to the Kaliningrad Oblast.
If Vilnius doesn’t expand its operations, the isolated exclave will need to rely on Portovaya LNG for supplies, utilizing its full capacity. An alternative could be Arctic LNG-2; however, the initial phase of this venture runs at merely 25%, yielding around 6.6 million tons annually. Additionally, sanctions targeting methane carriers significantly hinder progress with this initiative,” explains Dr. Kardas.
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According to the expert, even if Trump were to lift sanctions against Moscow today, Russia would struggle to sustain its growth potential.
“The Russians have pretty much hit their peak capabilities. It will require considerable time for them to develop their own LNG technology. In this area, the USA has surpassed Russia,” stresses Kardas.
Nevertheless, Russian natural gas might remain appealing to Trump. According to reports from money.pl, there were indications that the U.S. was considering engaging in some form of gas collaboration with Russia. The Wall Street Journal mentioned in February 2025 that Miami’s finance magnate Stephen P. Lynch is attempting to purchase stakes in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
There have been voices suggesting that American control over this project could be a significant asset in peace negotiations with Russia.
Sergey Lavrov later confirmed that talks between the USA and Russia about resuming supplies through Nord Stream were taking place.
From a purely business perspective, such cooperation could be beneficial for both sides. The Americans would take cheaper gas from the Yamal region and western Siberia from the Russians and sell it with their own label in the EU. Control over Nord Stream shares would reduce the costs of gas transport and LNG supplies. Meanwhile, Russia would earn as an intermediary.
However, this is not the only gas pipeline that interests Trump.
As reported by “The Guardian” on Saturday, the U.S. is seeking oversight of a key natural gas pipeline that carries Russian fuel through Ukraine to Western Europe as part of an upcoming minerals deal.
This concerns
The Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod pipeline transported natural gas from western Siberia across Ukraine to reach European markets.
In December 2022, it suffered damage due to an explosion.
As reported by “The Guardian,” the most recent U.S. document contains a demand for
The US International Development Finance Corporation to assume management of it.
This supports the idea that Trump is prepared to profit from the shipment of natural gas from Russia to Europe.
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The European Union’s reaction still remains uncertain.
Brussels plans a complete departure from Russian gas.
They are also exploring legal options that would allow European companies to terminate long-term contracts for Russian gas without paying huge contractual penalties, as reported by “The Financial Times” on Tuesday.
However, within the EU itself, there are countries – like Slovakia and Hungary – that push for further imports of raw materials from Russia and a return to former dealings with Moscow.
Certain European firms appear eager to work alongside Russia. Didier Ollo, the vice president of France’s Engie, highlights this point.
Russia might provide around 60-70 billion cubic meters of gas each year.
Meeting only 20-25 percent of the European Union’s energy demands, compared to the previous target of around 40 percent prior to the onset of the conflict. This viewpoint was echoed by Patrick Pouyanné, who serves as the chairman of TotalEnergies SE. Should Donald Trump have succeeded in seizing these pipeline assets, the United States would stand to benefit significantly from them.
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