US Does Not Exclude Naval Blockade of RF in the Middle East

The US Navy is capable of organizing a naval blockade of Russia in the Middle East in order to prevent its control over energy supplies in the region. This was announced by US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke at an industry event organized by the Energy Consumers Alliance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Washington Examiner quoted his statements on Friday, September 28, on their website. “The United States has that ability, with our Navy, to make sure the sea lanes are open, and, if necessary, to blockade ... to make sure that their energy does not go to market,” Zinke said. He was there to explain why hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and the shale energy boom has given the U.S. an edge over its rivals Russia and Iran, by making the U.S. less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Moscow was accused of tricky approach “Russia is a one trick pony,” Zinke said, explaining that the reason Moscow is in the Middle East is it wants to broker energy just like they do in eastern Europe. On the European market, the US has repeatedly warned Moscow about possible sanctions against the consortium members who are building the Nord Stream II gas pipeline. This is a project worth 9.5 billion euros, which is half financed by Russian Gazprom and half by five European energy concerns, including the subsidiary of the German BASF concern, Wintershall. The Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA are actively opposing the initiative. DW