U.S. Must Support East Med Energy Security

The Biden administration’s abrupt decision in January to withdraw support for the EastMed Pipeline, which would deliver Israeli and Cypriot natural gas to Europe via Greece upon completion in 2025, has been proven misguided by momentous events following Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. With the Eastern Mediterranean’s abundant offshore energy resources becoming increasingly important economically and geopolitically as America’s European allies work to lessen their hydrocarbon dependence on Russia, the administration should reverse its January decision, commit itself to studying the most effective means to transport Eastern Mediterranean energy to Europe, and make clear its support for the region’s peaceful energy development more broadly as a critical pillar of European and transatlantic security, including through greater U.S. involvement in regional diplomatic and economic frameworks like the East Mediterranean Gas Forum and Greco-Cypriot “trilaterals” with Israel and Egypt.