Natural Gas as Russia's Foreign Policy Tool and How to Mitigate the EU's Vulnerability

Abstract

For more than a decade, Europe's dependence on Russian energy supplies has been a staple of geopolitical considerations. Discussions surrounding this issue have intensified every time relations between Russia and the West have reached a new low. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has returned the issue to the agenda, this time with greater urgency than ever. With the EU seeking to transition to a climate-neutral economy, the need for increased volumes of natural gas, and a second major Russian pipeline now linking the country directly to Germany via the Baltic Sea, the EU must take stock of the potential threats resulting from its import dependence.