I have never said that. But sanctions against Russia have been very good for US gas exports.
Putin had two options. Either allow Ukraine become a NATO member which would have resulted in him being replaced or invading Ukraine.
Putin had two options. Either allow Ukraine become a NATO member which would have resulted in him being replaced or invading Ukraine.
Also, US isn't the only country that exports LNG, how would they ensure that the US reaped the benefits fully?
They chose to believe in a liberal capitalist just-so story that more commerce with an unfree nation inevitably led to a burgeoning middle class demanding Western style democracy, and well, they fucked up real bad.
Same theory was applied to China, same theory failed.
Hence the European's sudden desire to expand the capacity for LNG offloading in European ports, they chose the faith based thinking of certain economists over cynical realism, and handed Russia a leash around their necks, who, in a move that shocked no-one who wasn't in German government in the last 15 years, used it to try to control them.
And this after Crimea and all the shenanigans in eastern Ukraine.
By why does NATO exist, and why would countries seek to join it of their own accord?
Whatever could've prompted them to do so?