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Under Washington’s political pressure and the fallout from the war in Ukraine, Europe has decisively turned away from Russian gas. Leading European energy companies are now signing long-term contracts with US LNG producers, forging an energy alliance that is both strategic and economic.

For more than two years, Europe has sought to reduce its reliance on Russian gas, an effort accelerated by the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions. According to RFI, European firms, long hesitant to commit to long-term deals, are now turning to US liquefied natural gas (LNG) to secure reliable supplies. This shift represents a diplomatic and commercial victory for Washington, whose strategy is finally paying off.

Historic Transatlantic Agreements

After months of negotiations, several European companies have signed landmark deals with major US gas producers. In July 2025, Italy’s ENI and Germany’s Sefe finalized 20-year contracts to purchase US LNG, Reuters reports. In September, ExxonMobil confirmed to the Financial Times that it was in talks for a similar agreement with the European Union.

Previously, Europeans relied on short-term spot market purchases to maintain flexibility amid the energy transition. However, shrinking Russian gas supplies and volatile global prices have prompted companies to embrace long-term contracts.

Competitive Prices and Massive Supply

US LNG offers highly competitive pricing. Data from Bloomberg Energy in September show that wholesale US LNG prices are currently about three times lower than those in Europe or Asia. Even if this gap narrows over time, analysts expect US gas to remain structurally cheaper, thanks to stable production and low extraction costs in Texas and Louisiana.

Supply volumes are equally significant. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that the United States will account for 50% of the global increase in LNG supply by 2030. Between 2004 and 2024, US gas production doubled, making the country the world’s top LNG exporter by 2023, according to the US Department of Energy. By the end of 2024, US liquefaction capacity reached nearly 120 billion cubic meters per year, roughly 20% of global output.

Primarily a Political Strategy

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has urged Europe to permanently replace Russian gas with US LNG, aiming both to strengthen American economic influence and cut off Moscow from a vital source of energy revenue.

Brussels reported in September 2025 that the last Russian gas contracts will expire by the end of 2027, making the energy decoupling between Europe and Russia increasingly irreversible.

However, this pivot toward US gas raises a key dilemma: how to reconcile energy security with the green transition. While the EU remains committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, the surge in long-term LNG contracts risks prolonging dependence on fossil fuels.

By signing these deals with Washington, Europe opts for stability over vulnerability, even at the cost of a new strategic dependence. For the US, the move consolidates its position as a global energy superpower, exporting both gas and geopolitical influence.