LNG pledge to Europe raises doubts
Japan’s ill-defined promise of support may be more symbolic than practical
US and Japanese authorities suggested in February that Japan might be able to spare LNG to help Europe in the event of a reduction in Russian pipeline flows. But it may not be a practical solution, given Japan’s own needs and European capacity constraints. Japan has pledged support for the EU regarding LNG supply, but it is unclear whether anything specific was agreed. In February, Japan’s powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti) stated that “in response to a request for LNG accommodation to Europe”, “the policy of Japan [is] to cooperate as much as possible, on the premise that a stable supply to Japan will be secured”. A statement from the US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanue
Also in this section
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
17 February 2026
Siemens Energy has been active in the Kingdom for nearly a century, evolving over that time from a project-based foreign supplier to a locally operating multi-national company with its own domestic supply chain and workforce
17 February 2026
Eni’s chief operating officer for global natural resources, Guido Brusco, takes stock of the company’s key achievements over the past year, and what differentiates its strategy from those of its peers in the LNG sector and beyond
16 February 2026
As the third wave of global LNG arrives, Wood Mackenzie’s director for Europe gas and LNG, Tom Marzec-Manser, discusses with Petroleum Economist the outlook for Europe’s gas market in 2026






