The gas conference in Doha is an embodiment of the deficit in the Ukrainian crisis

The Algerian president's position on the issue of supplies summarizes the contradiction between words and deeds.

Doha - The positions announced during the gas conference hosted by the Qatari capital expressed the contradictions in the international political and economic scene. Everyone talks about data and plans that he cannot materialize on the ground. While the West wants to turn the gas card into a part of a diplomatic dispute with Russia, the statements have shown that it is now difficult to use this card in that dispute, as Europe does not have alternatives and plans, while Moscow is the one who controls the tap.

At a time when the United States and Europe are seeking to respond to Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of two Ukrainian provinces by employing gas as a pressure card on Moscow, it became clear that this paper may not exceed the level of diplomatic and media insinuation in light of the impossibility of turning it into an implementable decision due to intertwining interests and the difficulty of dispensing For Russian gas, even if temporarily.

The Russian escalation - which had been expected for months - revealed the limitations of the gas war that the West was waving in the face of Russia, warning it against taking any step against Ukraine, but it failed to create sufficient alternatives that would make it take a decision to stop importing gas from Moscow completely. .

The gas card does not go beyond the level of diplomatic and media threats in light of the impossibility of turning it into an enforceable decision

Observers believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of his recognition of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk provinces aims to show the limited options for Western sanctions on his country from the gas gate, and that everyone has no choice but to accept the situation arising from Russia's desire to restore its influence in the surrounding republics, which were part of from the Soviet Union.

So far, Germany has only announced the suspension of approval of the operation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is specially designed to transport Russian natural gas directly to Europe, and it has not originally started work yet, and the project has been suspended for a while due to American pressure, and the suspension of work cannot be considered a punishment As long as it does not work, it does not decrease the Russian quantities that pass into Europe, nor does it decrease the revenues.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Tuesday that he had asked the German regulatory body responsible for the project to suspend its review process. This issue, he said, “seems technical, but is a necessary administrative step that prevents any validation of the pipeline. Without this approval, Nord Stream 2 cannot be started.”

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s talk about a “fruitful dialogue” between gas producers and consumers raised questions about Algeria’s ability to reach a conclusion from this dialogue, which cut off a pipeline that transports gas to Europe and supplies Morocco with part of its needs without thinking primarily of opening a dialogue with him, nor Think even of their interests.

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Observers say that the desire of the Algerian authorities to harm Morocco politically has prompted it to gamble with its investments in the field of gas, and that stopping the export through this line could cause a disruption in Algeria's commitment to Spain in the first place and then Europe, let alone providing an alternative to cover up the halting of the export of Russian gas Towards Europe, whether by a decision from Moscow or from Europe, as a pressure card in the diplomatic battle.

Tebboune said that his country considers that "the Exporting Countries Forum has the ability to play a more effective role in promoting the uses of natural gas and establishing a constructive and fruitful dialogue between the various actors in the gas markets."

As for Qatar, which the Americans moved to convince of the necessity of pumping significant quantities to Europe, it said that it is unable to increase more than 15 percent of what it is now pumping to continental allies.

Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad al-Kaabi said on Tuesday that Qatar could transfer between 10 and 15 percent of its gas exports to different customers than those who initially contracted with it to sell.

He said in a press conference in Doha at the conclusion of the gas conference that some of the quantities of gas already pledged to Britain can be transferred, stressing that the majority of the quantities of gas exported by his country are actually linked to long-term contracts.

The Algerian authorities' desire to harm Morocco politically prompted them to gamble with their gas investments

These observers added that Qatar realized that it is not possible to anger large consumers such as China, Japan and South Korea. It is also difficult for it to enter into an arm-twisting battle with Russia as a major partner in the gas organization for the sake of circumstantial interests. Observers considered that Al-Kaabi’s words disappointed the Europeans, especially the United States, which sought to push Doha to double its production and provide significant quantities through which to put pressure on Russia Noting that the Qatari position also showed that Doha was unable to fulfill the promises made by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during his recent visit to the United States, and that words are one thing and actions are quite another.

In conjunction with the difficulty that Qatar faces in seeking to modify its plans in order to provide alternatives to Europe, the Europeans did not find other alternatives ready to import gas, especially since countries such as Algeria - which is supposed to be one of these alternatives - live in special situations in which political confusion dominates the issue of supplying gas. Gas.

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum was established in December 2008 as an intergovernmental organization based in Doha, and is concerned with setting a framework for exchanging experiences and information between member states and raising the level of cooperation and coordination between them.

The forum sets among its objectives a mechanism for establishing a constructive dialogue between gas producers and consumers in order to achieve stability and security in relation to supply and demand in natural gas markets at the global level.

The forum includes in its membership 11 countries; They are Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela, while Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Norway, Peru and the United Arab Emirates have the status of an observer member.