Ukraine war at year 1: Europe seeks secure energy ties with Middle East
As the war in Ukraine drags on, Western sanctions on Russia, the world’s largest natural gas and second-largest oil exporter, have sent Europe hunting for alternatives in the Middle East and North Africa.
The year-old war in Ukraine has shifted energy dynamics between Europe and the Middle East as Russia, the world’s largest natural gas and second-largest oil exporter, continues to face sanctions from the West.
Several European leaders have gone on a charm offensive with state visits to energy-rich countries in the Middle East and North Africa region in recent months. For example, when she visited Algeria in January, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni evoked the two countries’ shared history in an effort to forge a strategic partnership to help wean her country off Russian energy.
With Europe’s main energy supplier out of the picture, there is a huge energy scarcity on the continent. The Dutch Groningen gas field is due to close in October, and Norway is working at its oil and natural gas production limits.
In 2021, Europe imported 2.2 million barrels per day from Russia, including 700,000 via pipelines and 1.2 million bpd of refined oil products, according to the International Energy Agency.
