Europe wants American gas, so why is it letting its courts sabotage our pipelines?

Published August 12, 2026 8:00am ET



America’s energy advantage depends on more than just the resources beneath the ground. It depends on the pipelines, terminals, and other infrastructure needed to move energy from where it is extracted to where it is needed. Without the ability to build and operate those systems under predictable rules, abundant resources cannot deliver affordable power at home or strengthen American influence abroad.

Recent history demonstrates the stakes. When Russia weaponized its natural gas supplies in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, Europe discovered the danger of relying on a hostile government for something as fundamental as energy. American liquefied natural gas helped provide an alternative, but only because the United States had the infrastructure necessary to produce and transport it.

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