EU accelerates LNG diversification as Greenland tensions strain US relations

US-sourced liquefied natural gas (LNG) has played a pivotal role in enabling Europe to compensate for the loss of Gazprom supplies. However, recent rhetoric from the White House regarding tariffs and threats involving the use of force against an ally’s territory have prompted the European Union (EU) to reassess its growing reliance on the US.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen told Politico that the bloc is accelerating efforts to diversify its LNG supply chain.

“We do not wish to trade one dependency for another”

Jørgensen stated that the European Commission is actively seeking alternative LNG suppliers and plans to deepen energy ties with nations such as Canada, Qatar, and Algeria in the coming months. Brussels is also reportedly working on securing sources to replace Russian nuclear fuel.

While emphasizing that the EU does not seek a trade war with Washington, Jørgensen acknowledged growing internal concerns about the risk of “trading one dependency for another.” He noted that the geopolitical tremors following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine served as a warning, extending now to the deterioration of relations with the US. Commenting on the developments of recent weeks, the Commissioner remarked:

“What makes the situation more serious and complex is the fraying of relations with the US and the presence of an American president who does not rule out the use of force against Greenland.”

US LNG market share and trade volume

According to Reuters, citing Kpler data, European LNG imports from the US surged from 18 million tons in 2021 to 65 million tons in 2025. This volume accounted for 57% of the total liquefied gas imported by the EU and the UK last year. Currently, approximately one-quarter of all gas imported into the European Union is sourced from US LNG.

Under a trade agreement reached last year between the US and the EU—which remains unratified due to Donald Trump’s threats over the Greenland issue—Brussels was projected to purchase $250 billion worth of American energy resources between 2026 and 2028. Last year, such imports totaled $75 billion.

According to International Energy Agency (IEA) projections, global LNG export capacity is expected to increase by 50% between 2025 and 2030, driven primarily by the US and Qatar. Other nations are also expanding their investments in the sector.

In July, Canada began exports from the first train of the LNG Canada Development facility in British Columbia, with the second train coming online at the end of the year. According to Bloomberg calculations, Canada is set to become the world’s eighth-largest LNG exporter, with two additional projects slated for 2027 and 2028.

Qatar, one of the world’s largest LNG suppliers, aims to increase its production capacity by 85% by 2030, raising annual output from 77 million tons to 142 million tons.

TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné noted last year that the global LNG market will reach a “healthy supply balance in 2027, 2028, and 2029,” thanks to new facilities built following the 2022 crisis triggered by sanctions on Russia. Pouyanné added that numerous alternatives to Russian gas would continue to emerge in Europe.