Trump’s Russia sanctions: strategic play for oil, gas, and economic power

"Drill, baby, drill" became a central theme of Trump’s campaign and the early days of his presidency. This focus is shaped by his electoral base, donor base, and his views on the economy, rooted in his first term. Even in his rhetoric, the influence of these ideas on Donald Trump is evident — after all, for him, wind turbines are the greatest evil of this world, "killing birds, driving whales crazy, and keeping honest Americans awake" (search online for how he mimics the sounds of these turbines — it’s sure to lift your mood).

The international implications of such policies are also clear. Trump plans to finally lift the ban on selling liquefied natural gas, a restriction inexplicably imposed by the Biden administration.

Trump has already set his sights on reclaiming both European and Asian markets. Moreover, his tough stance on Venezuela and Iran will prevent these carbon giants from returning to international markets.

Thus, focusing on the oil and gas industry is an obvious and even dominant aspect of Trump’s economic policy. Now, consider under what conditions it is most advantageous to revive a strong oil and gas strategy. When your main competitor — Russia — is on its knees, crushed by sanctions and broken contracts even with its closest partners. So, the next logical question: why would Trump make concessions to the Kremlin and lift sanctions? On the contrary, strengthening and expanding sanctions is a smart political move to secure a strong economic position.

Therefore, Trump’s threats aren’t just empty words — they represent a solid deal with his donors, voters, and the American economy.

It's the economy, stupid!

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About the author. Oleksandr Kraiev, expert at the Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism.

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.