American expert: Washington should actively support Southern Gas Corridor

Baku. 7 March. REPORT.AZ/ The position of the special envoy and coordinator for international energy issues under the US Department of State should be filled more quickly.

Report informs, American expert Peter Tase writes in an article published in the Eurasia Review.

Author notes, US President Trump’s letter of support addressed to participants of the International Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference in Baku, in May states that the US “remains strongly committed to the Southern Gas Corridor [project], and welcomes the efforts of Azerbaijan and its international partners to complete it.”

Trump administration needs to go an extra mile in demonstrating Washington’s support to all European partners in realization of this project. First and foremost, the position of the Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs that was skillfully executed by Carlos Pascual and Amos Hochstein until January 2017 needs to be filled as soon as possible. This would show to all the parties involved that the US does have a stake in this energy security.

Expert noted that Secretary Tillerson’s visit to Baku this year would cement strategic outlook that secured the realization of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Demonstrable steps taken by Washington will ascertain that the project does not fall victim to pressure from neither Moscow nor Tehran.