Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate of International Relations, Azad University Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Political Science, Azad University Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of International Relations, Azad University Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The existence of a significant level of asymmetric interdependence in Russian-European Union energy relations has fueled Western concerns about the conversion of Russian energy resources into political capital and Kremlin's use of energy leverage to infiltrate Europe and the Near East. At the same time, being engaged with political consequences of dependence to Russian energy, the European Union, in the new security environment following the Ukraine crisis in 2014 and the imposition of unilateral US sanctions on Russia's energy sector, faces new challenges for supplying energy resources. Addressing the mentioned concerns and challenges, the present article seeks to respond to the following question: "How is Russian gas export strategy assessed following Western sanctions since 2014?”  The author argues that although Western sanctions have led into decreasing foreign capital and technology investments in Russia’s energy sector since 2014, the EU's needs for gas imports from Russia have increased meanwhile; therefore the sanctions have not had a significant impact on Russia's energy weapons performance.” Using descriptive-analytical method and an inferential methodology the authors try to find an answer for the research question. While confirming the mentioned hypothesis, the findings show that Russian-European Union interactions in the area of energy will continue under the shadow of US sanctions.

Keywords

-   خبرگزاری مهر (6 آذر 1397)، «اولین محموله ال‌ان‌جی روسیه به شمال اروپا رسید»، قابل دسترسی در:
                  https://www.mehrnews.com/news/4469170
تاریخ دسترسی: 12 خرداد 1398
 
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