Natural gas relations between Russia and Euroepan Union: An asymmetrical interdependency

The natural gas relationship between the Russia and the European Union is an important issue affecting the long-term and bilateral relationship of each party. Russia is the party that rich in natural gas reserves and resources, the EU is the more dependent party that due to the limited energy resources and demand of its enlargement process. This bilateral relationship has some long-term and short-term consequences as well as it requires a degree of dependency especially in natural gas diplomacy. Russia is willing to continue its natural gas exports with the EU and even export natural gas to other neighboring countries. The EU tends to strengthen its security policies and aims to reduce this dependency, which is always an issue on EU's agenda. While natural gas pipelines in a country's domestic borders do not pose a problem only because they concern domestic consumption, energy policies to be arranged between the consumer country and the exporting country are required for cross-border natural gas pipelines. In addition, natural gas trade concerns not only the two countries that trade with each other, but also the neighboring countries and transit countries like Ukraine and Turkey. As these variables emerge, the policies implemented by the parties against each other (which will be considered between Russia and the EU) should be examined. These arguments should be supported by an appropriate theory of international relations, which is important for the structure and explanation of the relationship. The relationship of interdependence, which is highly mentioned in political economy, is clearly observed in the natural gas relationship between Russia and the EU. The interdependence of the two sides means that the two sides act in the interests of each other. However, as the name suggests, the fact that the two sides are connected to each other but if the existence of a superior state exists, this relationship can be explained as an asymmetric interdependence. In this thesis, Russia-EU natural gas relations are claimed to be asymmetrically interdependent in which less dependent actor (Russia) can often use the interdependence relationship as a source of power in compromise an issue ot more dependent actor (EU). The emphasis on neoclassical realism is emphasized in terms of keeping security and policy ahead in international relations and the existence of an internal level variable (Gazprom) that affects Russia's foreign natural gas policy towards the EU. The conclusion after analyzing the Russia-EU natural gas policies is: It is possible that there is an asymmetrical interdependence between Russia and the EU in terms of natural gas relationship and this dependence will continue in the long term unless alternative projects between the two are realized. Keywords: Natural gas, Russia, European Union, Neoclassical realism, Asymmetric interdependence, Gazprom