MOSCOW, RUSSIA- Today, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry met with the Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, Alexander Novak. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways in which America and Russia, two of the world’s top producers of natural gas and leading producers of oil can work together to ensure world energy market stability, transparency, and sustainability. Secretary Perry also expressed his disappointment and concern about Russia’s continued attempts to infiltrate the American electric grid. Finally, he discussed the mutual responsibility the two nations have to ensure that nuclear power is managed for peaceful purposes.

Secretary Perry made clear that while the United States welcomes competition with Russia in energy markets across Europe, Asia and elsewhere, Moscow can no longer use energy as an economic weapon. The United States is now in a position to offer these nations an alternative source of supply.  Just this week, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) announced that the United States is now the largest crude oil producer in the world. This summer, U.S. production exceeded Russian output for the first time since 1999. President Trump has made clear that the United States staunchly opposes the Nordstream 2 Pipeline, which would expand a single-source gas artery deep into Europe.  The U.S. supports the desire of European nations to minimize their dependence on Russia as a single energy supplier, and look forward to increasing LNG exports to the region, as announced by President Trump and EU President Juncker in June.   

Perry underscored that, as two of the world’s top producers of natural gas and oil, the United States and Russia have a joint responsibility to further international energy security and global stability. Both Secretary Perry and Minister Novak agreed to continue this previously dormant energy dialogue and to search for ways to work together, within the guidelines and limitations of our current bilateral relationship. The future of our energy relations is predicated on successfully addressing our broader disagreements.