For the administration of President Donald Trump, a policy of “energy dominance” means reducing dependence on imported oil and promoting exports to boost the national economy and Washington’s political influence overseas.
The Trump administration has capitalized on a
decade-long U.S.
drilling boom to pursue some of the most aggressive foreign energy policies in
the nation’s history. So far, that has meant sanctions on oil exports from
OPEC-members Iran and Venezuela and threats against firms helping Russia build
a natural gas pipeline into Europe.
To fill the supply gap, Washington is promoting a rising wave of
U.S. crude oil and natural gas exports.
The Trump administration has billed the moves as a way to
achieve foreign policy goals, with the added benefit of helping both U.S.
energy producers expand their markets and American allies diversify their
supplies. But Washington has irritated many European diplomats and energy
companies who resent its growing global influence on energy markets and view
its policies mainly as a way to give U.S. producers an advantage, according to
interviews with diplomats, executives and analysts.
Growing friction over energy is grating on trans-Atlantic ties
that are already strained by squabbles over NATO funding, trade, climate change
and diplomatic gaffes.
“We value highly the relationship with our American partners,
allies and friends,” EU Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters
at a briefing in Brussels last month. “But ... they should also refrain from
unilateral action.”
Moscovici also advocated using the euro in more international
energy transactions, which are almost universally conducted in U.S. dollars.
- Reuters
No comments:
Post a Comment