The double standards of Western countries are very annoying to most countries around the world, but it should be noted that there is competition within Western countries. When it comes to their own interests, they will also show disgust with the double standards. Recently, France has rarely been tough, and French President Macron criticized the United States for implementing double standards at a press conference.
According to Macron, the price of natural gas sold to EU in the United States is three or four times its domestic price. This double standard has brought a huge impact on the development of the EU economy. As early as early October, Macron criticized the issue of excessive natural gas prices in the United States. Since the outbreak of the Ukrainian War, the EU has reduced Russian gas imports due to imposing sanctions on Russia.
Many countries are working hard to find other alternative channels. On October 14, German Economic Biology spokesperson Barron said that Germany's natural gas reserves have reached 95% of the total capacity, achieving the target ahead of schedule. But countries such as Germany have paid a huge price to achieve their natural gas storage goals.
Not long ago, German Economic Minister Habek publicly stated that in 2022, Germany suffered economic losses of up to 60 billion euros due to excessive energy costs. In other words, many EU countries can solve the problem of natural gas shortage in the short term, but the cost is too high, and even economic powers like France and Germany cannot afford it.
The most fundamental reason for the EU's dilemma in natural gas is its serious shortage of reserves, which determines that it is almost impossible for the EU to achieve self-sufficiency in energy. Germany and France almost produce natural gas themselves, but they cannot do without it. In addition to the daily use of residents, natural gas is also a raw material for many large chemical companies in the EU.
Excessive natural gas prices will increase the production and living costs of EU countries at the same time, greatly weaken the competitiveness of EU companies, and prompt them to gradually transfer production capacity to China, the United States and other countries outside the EU. Over the past few decades, the EU's economic development has been pretty good. One key factor here is that Russia has provided them with long-term cheap natural gas.
As former German Chancellor Merkel said recently, even during the Cold War, Russia was a reliable energy partner. The von der Leyen and others who dominate the EU now have short-sighted eyes. The EU's own energy reserves are insufficient, and they are sanctioning Russia, a stable energy supplier. Seeing this situation, American energy companies will of course slap the EU hard.
In addition to making money, the United States has significantly increased the price of natural gas to the EU, and another important reason is to weaken the EU and the euro. During the Second World War , most European countries were destroyed by the war. They re-entered the fast lane of development with the support of the United States' " Marshall Plan ".
However, France and Germany have always been unwilling to be the younger brother of the United States. From time to time, Charles de Gaulle , Chirac , Schroder , Merkel, and other leaders with strong sense of autonomy are against the United States, and they also withstand the pressure from the United States to establish the EU and issue the euro, trying to get rid of the control of the United States.
Now, taking advantage of the opportunity of the Ukrainian war, the United States uses the energy in its hands to hit the EU hard. If it can cause internal strife or even disintegration of the EU, it will be even more undesirable for the United States. Therefore, the debate on natural gas between the EU and the United States is not just a dispute over interests, it is just part of the all-round game between the two sides.
As the only superpower in the world, the United States will always keep a close eye on those economies with strong sense of autonomy, waiting for opportunities to cause them all kinds of troubles and interrupt their development. At this point, the United States has the same attitude towards Russia, China and the European Union.
If EU politicians really want the EU to continue as a supranational political entity, they should embark on an independent and independent development path and not be led by the United States again.
The best way for the EU to break through is to strengthen cooperation with countries such as China and Russia to promote a multipolar world. If you continue to follow the United States and shout, they will eventually suffer.
