Amid ongoing conflict in Iran and surging energy prices at home, the Trump administration is working to increase U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales in Central and Eastern Europe.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced agreements to enhance the construction of “Trump Peace Pipelines” in the region, aiming to boost LNG exports.
“President Trump is initiating a new era of cooperation for Central and Eastern Europe,” Wright stated. “These partnerships are founded on mutual support for energy expansion—more jobs, more opportunity, and more investment.”
The announcement was made at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia, attended by 13 nations around the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic seas.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. produces as much natural gas as Russia, China, and Iran combined and leads in LNG exports. LNG exports are expected to more than double in the next decade.
However, this gas comes at a significant environmental cost, primarily due to fracking. The process of cooling LNG to -161 degrees Celsius for transport is energy-intensive. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, leaks at several stages.
Cornell University’s Robert Howarth found that only 34% of LNG’s greenhouse emissions result from burning the fuel, with the majority occurring earlier in its lifecycle. Howarth concluded LNG’s carbon footprint equals or exceeds that of coal.
LNG terminal construction has caused pollution in areas like Louisiana.
James Hiatt, founder of For a Better Bayou, noted that new terminals in coastal Louisiana dramatically affect local life. Issues include air pollution, dredging siltation, and heavy tanker traffic, with little community benefit due to tax incentives for developers. Local fishermen have blamed LNG activities for declining fish and shrimp harvests.
“They’re paying more to be polluted with no benefit,” Hiatt said. “We don’t discuss climate much, but more carbon in the atmosphere leads to more chaos.”
The advocacy group Public Citizen claims LNG exports raise U.S. energy costs by selling national gas reserves to the highest international bidders.
“It’s not good for America’s working people,” Hiatt said. “It may benefit a few wealthy individuals, but it’s an ‘America Last’ policy.”
The European Three Seas agreements include plans to develop energy infrastructure and pipelines in Central and Eastern Europe and enhance nuclear technology in Croatia.
Previously reliant on Russian gas, much of the region still receives gas via Turkey due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. oil companies have filled this gap, says Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The North American LNG Export Tracker and EU Gas Flows Tracker show U.S. LNG exports to Europe almost tripled from 2.51 million metric tons in February 2022 to 6.16 million metric tons in December 2025.
“In 2022, 50% of gas depended on one supplier [Russia], causing a crisis,” Jaller-Makarewicz noted. Europe is reducing dependence on Russia by diversifying LNG imports and increasing renewable energy use. However, this shifts dependency from Russian to U.S. LNG.
“It’s expensive and offers no security supply,” she said. “Our LNG dependency is our weakest point.” U.S. LNG shipments are not guaranteed, often rerouted or delayed for better prices.
“We are more fragile, dependent on external factors,” she added. “Only demand can be controlled, not supply.”
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org