The E.U. and Russia: An Uneasy Oil and Gas Bond

There is no shortage of paranoia in the West these days over Russia’s revitalized, energy-driven, superpower status. Much of it was fueled by the German-Russian Nord Stream gas pipeline mega-deal in 2005. Not only did it confirm Germany’s status as Russia’s preferred strategic European partner, but for many it also confirmed Europe’s dangerous over reliance on Russian energy. Those fears were bolstered again in June when Italy


But should the West blame Russia for doing what any good business management does: maximize the income for its products? Should the West expect Russia to play by the E.U.’s rules of collectivism and meekly hand over its pipeline investments to international control? And is it really so difficult to understand that Putin is utilizing his country