President Trump said Tuesday that Russia isn’t happy with the U.S.’ success in becoming a top producer and exporter of oil and natural gas.
“We’re now exporting oil and gas,” Trump said. “This is not something that Russia wanted.”
The U.S. is now a net natural gas exporter, which means it exports as much or more than it uses domestically. The Trump administration has made energy exports part of its geopolitical strategy to free countries from the potential stranglehold Russia has over energy supplies in Europe.
[Exports expected to soar as US energy demand remains flat]
Trump made the comments in meeting with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Trump’s visit with the leaders comes as the three nations celebrate the 100th anniversary of their independence from Russia.
“We are inaugurating 100 years of renewed partnerships among our nations,” Trump said. He said the talks would include “expanding bilateral trade and investment,” among other issues. “We make the best military equipment in the world by far.”
As part of the meetings, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite is signing two memorandums of understanding to increase the country’s imports of U.S. natural gas, which Trump called part of the U.S.’ “energy security” cooperation with the three countries.
Grybauskaite will sign the first MOU with Texas-based Freeport LNG and Lithuania’s Klaipedos Nafta for cooperation on liquefied natural gas terminals. Another will be signed between Freeport LNG and Lithuania’s natural gas supply and trading company, Lietuvos Duju Tiekimas, for LNG shipments.
The U.S. also will provide expertise to the countries to prevent cyberattacks and offer technical assistance to support energy diversification, including synchronizing the Baltic and European electric grids, the White House said.
