The new US Administration of President
Donald Trump
is unlikely to facilitate the export of hydrocarbons from Israel, Cyprus
and Greece but support for solution of the Cyprus problem will remain,
top experts told New Europe.
“With regards to export of hydrocarbons from Israel, Cyprus and
Greece I do not see any direct impact, but if prices stay low it will
not help,” Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company CEO
Charles Ellinas
told New Europe on November 10, adding that such exports are still
challenged by low oil and gas prices in Europe and globally. “Israel’s
plans to export gas to Turkey should not be affected – it is a local
deal in which the US will have a role similar to now, i.e. supporting
it,” he said.
Asked if a Trump Presidency can it lead to a solution to the Cyprus
issue and the Exclusive Economic Zone, Ellinas said Washington’s support
for solution of the Cyprus problem would remain. “I do not expect US
interest in these issues to be any different than now. Support for
solution of the Cyprus problem will remain, but how proactively I cannot
say. But US oil companies may benefit from stronger political support.
It will be interesting to see what position he takes towards Turkey and
Syria/Iraq. A more detached view will have implications for the region,
including energy,” he said.
Turning to US-Russia energy relations, Ellinas noted that it is well known that Trump and Russian President
Vladimir Putin admire each other.
“Perhaps as Trump concentrates on domestic issues he may want to
limit distractions overseas and pursue better relations with Russia,
especially on Ukraine, and ease the current tension. TTIP with Europe
may be abandoned – this covers energy – but he will support LNG
(liquefied natural gas) exports. EU will need to redefine its own
position regarding Russia against this changed US position. But it
really is too early to say,” Ellinas said.
Outgoing US President
Barack Obama will visit Greece
on November 15-16 with the Greek government hoping to discuss debt
relief but geopolitical issues are likely to be on the agenda, focusing
on the volatile region.
“For all practical purposes, I tell you it’s a very ill-timed visit
because basically he’s an outsider looking in. He doesn’t have any power
anymore,”
Fadel Gheit, a senior energy analyst at Oppenheimer in New York, told New Europe by phone on November 9.
“It’s over. Whatever Obama does is completely irrelevant. I bet you
anything that the press and the media will be five percent talking about
Obama and 95 percent talking about Trump. Because Trump is the future
and Obama is the past.”
Gheit said that any discussions that Obama will have with Greek Prime Minister
Alexis Tsipras
on geopolitics, including the situation in Syria, Turkey and the whole
region “is no longer meaningful” because Trump will pursue a different
foreign policy. “It’s like reading yesterday’s newspaper. You’re not
telling us anything new,” Gheit said.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/trump-may-back-cyprus-solution-not-israel-cyprus-greece-energy-exports/