US Gas Surge through Balkans Challenges Russia's European Dominance
The US is positioning itself as Europe's largest gas supplier, especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since 2022, gas supplies from Russia have become increasingly politicized, leading to a push by Brussels to reduce its reliance on Moscow.
By the end of 2027, the European Union will ban Russian gas imports completely, with billions of euros spent on infrastructure to handle liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. The US is already the EU's largest source of LNG and is forecasted to overtake Norway as the bloc's largest natural gas supplier in 2026.
Croatia's Adriatic gas terminal, connected to Hungary through pipelines, offers a key pathway for US gas into central Europe. Energy analyst Ivan Brodic said that the terminal's future could be much bigger, with the US looking to push Russia out of the market completely.