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