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Over the years, world leaders have accused Russia for funding environmental groups in Europe. This was to help steer countries away from energy independence and increase Russia’s iron grip on the continent. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many countries around the world are now refusing Russian oil. However, U.S. leaders also question Russia’s connections in the environment community.
“The Russians actually finance some of the most rabid environment groups in Europe because sic them on energy projects that arent Russian,” James Carafano (vice president of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at Heritage Foundation) said to Fox News Digital in a recent telephone interview.
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In June 2014, just a few months after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, European leaders raised concerns that Russia was using disinformation operations to steer countries away fracking in favor Russian oil.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is seen pause before he begins his speech at a Carnegie Europe think tank held at the Bibliotheque solvay in Brussels on Monday Sept. 15, 2014.
(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
“I have met allies who can report that Russia, as part of their sophisticated information and disinformation operations, engaged actively with so-called non-governmental organisations – environmental organisations working against shale gas – to maintain European dependence on imported Russian gas,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former prime minister of Denmark and then-secretary-general of NATO, said, according to the Guardian.
The NATO press office claimed that the remarks were Rasmussen’s personal views. However, one NATO official raised concerns about Russia’s grip over Europe.
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We don’t want to get into the details of talks among allied leaders but Russia has used a mix of soft and hard power in its attempt at creating a sphere for influence, including through disinformation campaigns on many issues including energy. It is concerning that Russia may use its energy supplies to exert pressure on European nations. “No country should use supply terms and pricing terms to coerce,” a NATO official told The Guardian in 2014.
However, environmental groups have insisted on denying any connection to Russia.
“The idea that Putin’s puppets are real is so absurd, you have to wonder what they’re smoking at NATO Headquarters,” Greenpeace told The Guardian in 2014.
In this undated photo released by Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka, an oil drilling platform ‘Kolskaya’ is seen in the Sea of Okhotsk.
(AP)
Fracking was banned in Germany, France and the Netherlands by 2016. Russia’s power over European energy increased to 40% by 2022. It supplies approximately 40% of Europe’s natural gas. According to The Hill report, Lithuania receives 83% of its oil imports in Russia while Poland and Finland get 58% and 80% respectively.
“If you rely on foreign countries for your energy supplies, you are not an independent nation,” Michael Shellenberger (best-selling author of “Apocalypse Never”) told Fox News earlier this year.
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Shellenberger stated that 15 years ago, Europe produced more natural gas than Russia. But that all changed when Russia increased its natural gas production while Europe decreased it.
Shellenberger stated to Fox News that Europe decided not to frack in large parts in response to climate activists. “We now believe there is strong evidence suggesting that…” [the climate activists]Russia provided funding to support them directly.”
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Lamar Smith and Randy Weber, Republican Representatives from the U.S., wrote a letter to the Treasury Secretary at the time Steven MnuchinIn 2017, Russia argued that Russia’s goal was to “suppress widespread adoption of fracking across Europe and the U.S.” through funding environmental groups.
The two Republicans Even Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, was citedDuring a private 2014 speech, he complained about “phony environment groups” pushing an antifracking agenda.
Hillary Clinton
(Mike Smith/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
According to WikiLeaks 2016 excerpts, Clinton stated that “We were even up to against phony environment groups, and Im an environmentalist too, but these were funded from Russia to stand against any effort. Oh that pipeline, That fracking, or whatever will be a problem to you, and a lot money supporting that message was coming out of Russia.”
Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are holding three environmental groups to the fire.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is leading the Republicans in demanding that the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club reveal their ties with a San Francisco-based nongovernmental group that Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly uses for power over American energy production.
This Jan. 26, 2018, photo shows Russian President Vladimir Putin as the chairperson of a meeting of the Security Council in Moscow, Russia.
(Mikhail Klimentyev and Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
“Provided public reporting on Putin’s dark money influence over Europe and concerns surrounding similar efforts by the United States, we wrote today to explore your links with Sea Change,” the Republicans wrote to the three groups last Wednesday. “Any action taken by President Putin, the Russian government or Putin’s proxies to undermine American energy security should be addressed.”
In a previous Fox News comment, the three groups denied any ties. They described the accusations as “completely falsified”, “rooted in a hate campaign” and a fake “conspiracy theory.”
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“It is crucial to our national security to find out if Vladimir Putin, Putin’s government, or Putins proxies are interfering with America’s energy affordability, security, and security. McMorris Rodgers, House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican leader, stated that if the Sierra Club or the Natural Resources Defense Council have nothing to hide then we look forward for the evidence they provide by March 25, 2019.