War in Iran has made Belgium fully dependent on Russian LNG…
War in Iran has made Belgium fully dependent on Russian LNG supplies. The cessation of LNG supplies from the Persian Gulf, which contributed to rising gas prices in Europe, led to most EU countries refraining from purchasing liquefied fuel in July.
Consensus
- Belgium became the sole recipient of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in July 2026.
- Russia supplied approximately 400,000 metric tons of LNG to Belgium in July 2026.
- The supply disruption in the Persian Gulf was linked to military operations involving the U.S. and Israel and issues with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Belgium continued to receive natural gas via pipelines from Norway and the UK.
- The European Union has a ban on short-term contracts for Russian LNG starting April 2026, with a full phase-out planned by early 2027.
Points of divergence
- The reduction in LNG shipments from the Persian Gulf was caused by a military operation by the U.S. and Israel against Iran and disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. — kommersant
- The war in Iran led to the cessation of LNG supplies from the Persian Gulf, causing most EU countries to refrain from purchasing LNG in July. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The increase in Russian LNG exports to Belgium occurred despite the EU's stated goal of reducing Russian gas imports, due to worsening conditions in the Middle East. — vesti
- Total LNG imports to Belgium in July decreased by more than 40% compared to July 2025. — kommersant
- Russia remains the second-largest LNG exporter to Europe, behind only the United States. — vesti
Coverage (3 sources)
- Russia became the sole supplier of LNG to Belgium in July — Вести
- Bloomberg learned about Belgium's dependence on Russian LNG in July — Коммерсантъ
- The war in Iran has made Belgium fully dependent on LNG supplies from Russia — The Moscow Times