Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Becomes Real Challenge for Washington

Russia’s planned expansion of natural gas exports to China, particularly through the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, has the potential to fundamentally alter the balance of the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. According to Bloomberg, this development poses a serious challenge to U.S. strategic ambitions in the energy sector. The U.S., which in recent years has positioned itself as a leading LNG supplier thanks to the shale boom, faces a growing threat as Beijing turns to Moscow for stable, long-term supplies. China, the world’s largest energy importer, is signaling it no longer relies exclusively on American LNG. The strengthening of ties between Moscow and Beijing weakens Washington’s leverage in global energy politics, undermining its ability to use LNG exports as a geopolitical tool. Bloomberg estimates that once new agreements are fully implemented, Russia will be able to deliver gas volumes to China equivalent to over 40 million tons of LNG annually — more than half of China’s total LNG imports in 2024. This scale would make Russian pipeline gas a formidable competitor to American liquefied gas, which is costlier due to transport logistics and liquefaction.