Transatlantic Relations Will Greatly Strain Under Russian Energy Monopoly

Brief summary of the exhaustive article

"Europe's Strategic Dependence on Russian Energy"
By: Ariel Cohen
The Heritage Foundation
November 5, 2007

Because Russia is increasing its hold on oil and gas, Europe's energy security is in jeopardy thus putting U.S. Transatlantic Relations in jeopardy.

Many EU nations are setting up individual contracts with Russia. Europe as a whole imports 82% of its oil and 57% of its natural gas. The EU and the U.S. should find a solution to remedy this by: ending the oligopolistic energy supplier—Russia, find other energy transportation routes, force Russia into full compliance with the Energy Charter .

Europe's hunger for energy depends greatly on Russia. Russian strategy locks European countries into long term contracts, controls energy pipelines, signs exploration and supply agreements with other countries preventing exporting to the west and is forming government owned oil and gas companies. A new addition to this is Russia is forming a Natural Gas OPEC with Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Iran and Qatar.

Thus three trends are appearing:
1. European energy consumption and import dependency is rising
2. European energy supply routes are too concentrated
3. European leaders are partly responsible

Because of all of this Europe should expect higher energy prices and disruptions. These developments are a negative to the U.S.

Russia will use their energy control to advance their anti-American agenda. The EU and the U.S. have to remedy these situations otherwise NATO expan­sion to the Ukraine and Georgia, ballistic missile de­fense, Kosovo, and U.S. and European influence in the post-Soviet space will be hampered if not eliminated.