- Some European officials have accused the United States of profiting from the war in Ukraine, Politico reported.
- An official said the United States was making big profits from the sale of natural gas and weapons.
- A White House official said the high prices were only caused by “Putin’s energy war against Europe”.
Senior European officials have accused the United States of profiting from the war in Ukraine, according to a Politico report, in what could hurt the West’s united front against Russia.
Officials told the publication that the Biden administration was making a “fortune” from Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, while European countries suffered.
“The fact is, if you look at it soberly, the country that benefits the most from this war is the United States because it sells more gas and at higher prices, and because it sells more weapons,” an unnamed senior official told Politico. .
“We are truly at a historic turning point. America needs to realize that public opinion is shifting in many EU countries,” the official added.
The comments were backed publicly and privately by some European officials, diplomats and ministers, according to Politico.
Europe is preparing for a tough winter due to soaring energy prices. While oil prices have fallen back below pre-invasion levels, natural gas prices remain much higher and should help push the euro zone into recession, according to the European Commission.
Officials including French President Emmanuel Macron have called U.S. climate legislation and the fuel prices that flow from it “not favourable.” A Politico report explained that third-party sales of natural gas exported from the United States were driving up prices in Europe.
A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council dismissed the claims, telling Politico, “Europe’s rising gas prices are caused by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s energy war against Europe, period”.
U.S. natural gas exports to Europe “have grown significantly and allowed Europe to diversify away from Russia,” the spokesperson added.
Officials are also angered by Biden’s Cut Inflation Act, a $739 billion bill focused on clean energy, which a French foreign ministry official called “subsidies.” discriminatory practices which will distort competition”.
“The Inflation Reduction Act changed everything,” a European diplomat told Politico. “Is Washington still our ally or not?”
A report from NPR highlighted how Europe is increasingly concerned that its industries will flee to the United States, in part because of the Inflation Act.
Signs of discord between the US and the EU will be welcomed by Putin, whose troops have suffered major setbacks in Ukraine in recent months.
A European Commission official told Insider, “The United States and the EU are working hand-in-hand to support Ukraine in its legitimate resistance to Russia’s invasion, alongside G7 members and ‘other partners’.
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