US President Joe Bayden leads negotiations with Qatar about the possible deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe in case the Russian invasion of Ukraine will lead to its deficit on the continent, Bloomberg reports.
According to information, the European Union countries fear that in response to US sanctions Moscow can stop the supply of fuel in the EU. More than 40% of its natural gas receives from Russia, and a third of the supply goes through Ukraine.
Two sources reported to the agency that Biden intends to invite Emir Qatar Sheikh Tamima Bin Hamad Al Tanya to visit the White House this month. Preparation for the meeting has been underway for some time, said Bayden Administration representative.
At the same time, the US State Department is negotiating with the American manufacturers of liquefied gas, Reuters said a high-ranking representative of the American foreign policy department. Negotiations leads the Senior Energy Security Adviser Amos Khorshttein, which promotes the construction of LNG terminals in the EU even during the presidency of Donald Trump.
In addition, American diplomats appealed to the second largest gas supplier to the European Union countries, providing about a quarter of their consumption – Norway. A source familiar with the negotiation move, told CNN that the search for replacement of gas of the Russian company Gazprom is carried out on a global scale and with the participation of the US allies who are trying to determine which volumes will be required to be European countries to survive winter and spring.