From Alaska to Asia and Beyond<

In early April, the U.S. Department of Energy approved exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a facility planned for Alaska to Asia. The approval came on the same day that U.S. climate envoy John Kerry commented, "There will be no rolling back on the clean energy transition" in Sapporo, Japan, during a meeting with G-7 representatives. While all other countries strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Alaska project could increase greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels by 30%.

The approval of Alaska Gasline Development Corp's (AGDC) exports of LNG will be destined for countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (they have free trade agreements in force with only 20 countries). Thus, LNG exports are mainly destined for countries in Asia, reaching up to 20 million metric tons of fracked gas annually in 2030.

Last year, the U.S. became the world's major LNG exporter, averaging 6.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf/d) per day on an annual basis[4]. The Arctic region is central to U.S. energy independence and national security.  Therefore, the Willow Project, which is expected to produce 576 million barrels of oil over 30 years," and the planned LNG gas pipeline is expected to set the U.S. in direct competition with Russia in the energy sector. Therefore, the Alaska energy outlook would set the United States in competition with Russia to ship natural gas from the Arctic to Asia.

Between economic growth, competition, and environmental doom

The U.S. faces a challenging situation. During the presidential campaign in 2020, Biden vowed to end new oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters, but today, the panorama looks different. Data shows "the Biden administration approved 3,557 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in its first year, far outpacing the Trump administration's first-year total of 2,658."

• Biden just betrayed the planet - and his own campaign vows | The Guardian |

Therefore, Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope contradicts President Joe Biden's pledges to reduce carbon emissions and move to clean energy.

The European Union's Turn to the Arctic

The EU's engagement in the Arctic has both an environmental and geopolitical impetus as well. The EU's involvement in the Arctic raises the banner of the EU Green Deal without disregarding security and resource competition. Three EU member states (Denmark, Finland, and Sweden) are member states of the Arctic Council.

Militarisation of the Arctic

Beyond commercial interests, the territorial expansion into the Arctic is materializing with the advancement of defense and security concerns that were long dormant since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In response to Russia's aggression, the seven other Arctic states provisionally suspended their participation in the Arctic Council, isolating Russia. Against this backdrop, it is yet to be seen how China will take advantage of this situation.

Russian dominance of the Arctic includes civilian and military infrastructure across the Arctic, threatening the economic development and national security of the seven other nations that form the Arctic Council. In the same manner, NATO's increasing presence in the Arctic is viewed by Russia as a source of threat encroaching on its economic interests, particularly concerning oil and gas.

Russia and the United States in the Arctic: from Competition to Confrontation | Springer - June 2022 |

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