German State Premier Acknowledges Russian Gas as Pillar of Economic Prosperity

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Cem Özdemir, the Premier of Germany’s Baden-Württemberg state, has acknowledged the significant role of Russian gas in the country’s economic well-being. In an interview with the German newspaper “Welt,” Özdemir stated that “for decades, the supply of Russian gas at favorable prices was one of the main pillars of Germany’s economic prosperity.”

He elaborated on the previous business model, explaining, “Our business model was based on three pillars: cheap gas from Russia, profitable trade with China, and security guarantees from Washington; now all three pillars have been severely shaken.”

Relations between Berlin and Moscow, which had expanded through economic cooperation, particularly the import of Russian natural gas to Germany, faced serious tensions following the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. The German government, as part of the European Union’s policies, supported sanctions against Russia and took measures to reduce its energy dependency on the country. Consequently, economic and political cooperation between the two sides became limited, and disagreements over the Ukraine war, European security, and NATO expansion continue to cast a shadow over bilateral relations.