U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is warning that the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw support of a natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean undermines key allies and will lead to higher energy costs.
Bilirakis teamed up with U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-NY, in sending a letter to U.S. Sec. of State Antony Blinken on the administration’s decision to pull support from the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline which is backed by Israel, Cyprus and Greece.
“By undermining the project, the administration is undercutting three of our strongest allies in the region: Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, as well as the European Union’s hopes for energy independence and economic prosperity. Europe is facing an unprecedented increase in energy prices, spurred by several political, geographic, and market forces. A significant cause of the energy price spike is the short supply of natural gas. Despite Europe’s decades-long push toward green and renewable energies, the surge in energy prices has ironically led to the increased use of coal to meet demand. As natural gas is a cleaner energy option when compared to coal, it is a crucial energy source for governments seeking to transition to greener energy sources. The European Union recognizes this fact and has declared the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline a ‘special project,’” the congressman’s office noted.
Bilirakis weighed in on the matter this week.
“The Biden administration’s actions in this matter are particularly objectionable and hypocritical in light of its tacit approval of Russia’s Nord Stream pipeline, which will only deepen Europe’s energy dependence on a volatile adversary,” said Bilirakis. “The administration must realize the significant economic, environmental, and national security implications that are at stake in this matter and reconsider its decision to withdraw support for this critical project.”
“President Biden‘s decision to shut down America’s Keystone XL Pipeline, greenlight Putin’s NordStream 2 pipeline, and now disavow the Greek-Cypriot-Israeli EastMed Pipeline is a microcosm of this administration’s failed energy and foreign policy agendas,” said Malliotakis. “This President is asleep at the wheel, and his decision-making could cause severe economic and national security consequences for America and our allies.”
Last month, Bilirakis and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., were able to get their proposal to support Greece’s military and have that nation work closely with the U.S., Cyprus and Israel included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
