Serbian president predicts Trump’s Nord Stream strategy to alter EU gas deals

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has raised concerns that the United States may seek to purchase the Nord Stream gas pipeline next year, potentially using it as a leverage point to manipulate energy markets within the European Union (EU). 

Vucic suggested that the US could use the pipeline purchase as a means of shifting European energy dependence from Russia to the US, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

President Vucic speculated that the US, under President-elect Donald Trump, may initiate energy talks with Russia, during which the US could express interest in acquiring the Nord Stream pipeline. He suggested that once in control of the pipeline, Washington could restrict gas supplies to European countries by insisting that gas from Russia be purchased exclusively through American traders. This, according to Vucic, would force European countries to buy gas from the US, rather than directly from Russia.

The Serbian leader also forecasted that the US could leverage its significant trade deficit with Europe, potentially using this as a bargaining chip in negotiations with EU leaders. 

Vucic noted that Trump will put the paper down and say, “you know, we have a $132bn deficit with Europe, and we are defending Europe militarily. That has to change."

He further predicted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, faced with such a proposition, would likely agree to such a deal in order to ensure the EU's stability and security.

By Vafa Guliyeva