US urges NATO allies, Turkey to halt Russian energy imports

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Bloomberg
Today 14:52

The United States is pressuring NATO allies, including Turkey, to cut Russian energy imports as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war, amid ongoing oil and gas negotiations.

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An oil pumpjack is seen in Almetyevsk District, Tatarstan, Russia, on November 03, 2022 (Maksim Bogodvid/Sputnik)

The United States has called on NATO allies to stop buying Russian energy in a renewed effort to increase pressure on Moscow. The appeal was directed at countries such as Turkey, which remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.

The message was delivered during a meeting on Monday between US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the State Department confirmed in a statement.

Turkey is currently the third-largest importer of Russian oil, following China and India. Although Turkish refineries have recently begun to scale back purchases of Russian crude, prompted by US sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil producers, the country has not signaled plans to fully halt imports, Bloomberg reported last week.

Beyond oil, Russia remains Turkey’s primary supplier of natural gas. Ongoing negotiations between Ankara and Moscow aim to renew long-term supply contracts set to expire at the end of this year, a key element in sustaining Turkey-Russia energy relations.

Turkish oil imports decline amid Russian oil sanctions

The pressure campaign follows a series of sanctions targeting Russian oil imposed by the US, which have complicated international trade for Moscow’s energy sector. While Turkey has adjusted some of its purchasing behavior, it has resisted aligning completely with Western sanctions, balancing its geopolitical ties with both NATO and Russia.

According to Bloomberg Economics analysts Selva Bahar Baziki and Alex Kokcharov, US pressure “could pose a potential headache” for Ankara. However, they noted that “thanks to diversification, Ankara appears well placed to absorb the impact and keep any rise in its import bill manageable.”

US sanctions pressure grows despite Hungary's exemption

Last week, Washington granted a sanctions exemption to Hungary, allowing the NATO member to continue purchasing Russian oil. The move was widely seen as a diplomatic win for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of US President Donald Trump.

The exemption could complicate Washington’s push for greater alignment among NATO members on the issue of Russian energy, especially as energy security remains a central concern for many European capitals.