US going to Saudi Arabia for punishing Russia: Analyst

The US threats of oil and gas sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis imperil energy security across the world, an analyst writes in a column for the Press TV website.

Igor Alexeev said Russia may cut gas supply to energy-thirsty Europe in retaliation for Washington’s sanctions against Moscow.

“For the first time ever in the history of US-Russian relations, we are seeing a public debate about a threat of economic sanctions that may have a long-range negative effect on global energy security,” he wrote.

Regarding US’s offer to deliver gas to Europe after Russia threatened to cut off the export of the commodity, Alexeev said the European countries are “neither technically nor in terms of price” prepared to take delivery of energy from the United States.

“It would take at least ten years to adapt even the technically advanced German energy system to work with American gas supply.” he said, adding, “In a crisis, when it is particularly urgent to see a quick return on an investment, such projects are unrealistic.”

Alexeev said US President Barack Obama is soliciting oil-rich Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Qatar to find a way to punish oil and gas-rich Russia.

“The Obama administration acts as if it is guided by a chapter out of an old Soviet textbook on political economy,” he wrote.

Russia provides about half of Ukraine’s and 30 percent of Europe’s total gas demand with key pipelines on the Ukrainian territory.

Tensions between Moscow and the West remained high since Crimea separated from Ukraine and requested to join Russia after a referendum on March 16, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted for rejoining Russia. Russia subsequently accepted Crimea’s request.

Following Crimea’s integration with Russia, the US and the European Union imposed sanctions against Russian officials. The US has threatened to impose economic sanctions on Russia.