The US is exploring cooperation with Russia's Gazprom, focusing on possible global projects, Bloomberg reports.
According to the sources, preliminary contacts have been made between US and Russian officials on this issue. However, it is not clear who is leading these talks and whether the administration of President Donald Trump is directly involved. Bloomberg sources said that discussions on potential US cooperation with Gazprom are still in the early stages. They stressed that such cooperation could be part of a broader US strategy to weaken Russia's ties with China and Iran.
European officials note that the US is unlikely to succeed in driving a wedge between China and Russia, given how close the two countries have become. Meanwhile, Gazprom is interested in US help to restore the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
A deal between the US and Gazprom would mean a significant change for Trump, since during his first term he criticized Europe for its dependence on Russian gas and advocated expanding the sale of American liquefied natural gas to European countries.
Donald Trump recently had a phone call with Vladimir Putin, during which, among other things, they discussed cooperation between the two countries. Trump then said that the United States wants to conclude several agreements with Russia. In particular, Washington is interested in Russian rare earth metals.
The media also reported that Russia has offered the United States an agreement on rare earth metals in the occupied territories of Ukraine.