The Untapped Geopolitical Power of U.S. Natural Gas

Neil Bhatiya, Elizabeth Rosenberg

Security, Americas

The administration must play an active, strategic role to leverage the geopolitical power of U.S. energy.

Many in the United States and among our foreign allies are deeply disappointed by President Trump’s retreat from global leadership. What is equally depressing is how the administration stands to squander an enormous and steadily growing source of geopolitical clout if it does not figure out how to manage U.S. energy abundance wisely.

Recent data from the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that the United States’ vast natural gas production capacity, and its growing role as an overseas gas exporter, can compete with all of the major global players in as little as five years. U.S. natural gas sales will shake up fundamental trading patterns and market pricing for this energy commodity. They will also undermine the clout of countries like Russia and Qatar, known for their natural gas abundance and their notorious capacity to stir up regional conflict.

In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, President Donald Trump cast U.S. energy abundance as a critical source of U.S. strength in dealings with Russia. There is truth to that, but the administration must play an active, strategic role to leverage the geopolitical power of the asset and put this gush of U.S. gas to work for our strategic interests.

The truth is that Russia is in an advantageous position as a pipeline power in Europe. According to the IEA, Russia natural gas made up a whopping 34 percent of European imports, an increase from the previous year. More U.S. natural gas on the market will make European buyers breathe a little easier knowing they have alternatives and are less beholden to Russian coercion or inflexible supply arrangements. But the U.S. volumes will not erase Russian market share, especially if Russia deliberately acts to keep prices low.

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