Europe is experiencing a state that has been recorded: Relations with a major energy supplier are threatened, forcing the region to find alternatives to reduce excessive dependence on a single source.
Four years ago, the Russia-Ukraine conflict plunged Europe into an energy crisis. Now, new concerns stemming from US President Donald Trump's desire to gain control of Greenland are making Europe increasingly uneasy.
After the historic energy crisis in 2022, liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported by sea from the US became an important alternative to Russian gas transported by pipelines. The US currently meets more than 1/4 of Europe's gas demand, second only to Norway.
However, as President Donald Trump increasingly uses financial pressure measures on allies, from threatening tariffs to personal sanctions, such deep trade relations begin to be seen as strategic weaknesses.
This week, European Union (EU) Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera warned against being too dependent on US LNG. According to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, the bloc is actively considering increasing gas imports from Qatar, Canada and North Africa.
However, this is not an easy task. Very few LNG exporting countries have enough capacity to replace the US. The nearest supplier, Qatar, is also facing the risk of export disruptions due to moves from the US president.
Tensions in the Middle East have made gas traders restless this week, as Mr. Trump escalated military threats against Iran. LNG supplies from Qatar to Europe have declined since 2024, after Houthi attacks in Yemen turned the Red Sea into a dangerous route for LNG ships.
The military confrontation between the US and Iran could be disrupted even more seriously, because all Qatar's LNG exports must pass through the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic transit point in the Persian Gulf.
This puts Europe in a dilemma. The plan to completely end energy trade with Russia by the end of 2027 has faced much opposition. Russia still supplies about 10% of EU gas imports at the present time. This week, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called that plan an "energy suicide".
