Trump Administration Accused of Ambition to Dominate Global Energy Sector

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov claims the U.S. is using unfair tactics to control energy routes and supplies worldwide.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In an interview with TV BRICS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the Trump administration of openly asserting its ambition to dominate the global energy sector. Lavrov claimed the U.S. is using "blatantly unfair methods" against Russia, including banning the operations of Russian oil companies, and trying to dictate and restrict Russia's trade, investment, and military-technical ties with strategic partners like India and other BRICS nations.

Why it matters

Lavrov's comments highlight the growing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Russia over control of global energy resources and supply routes. The Trump administration's "America First" energy policies have led to increased confrontation with competitors like Russia, raising concerns about the potential for further economic and diplomatic escalation.

The details

According to Lavrov, the U.S. is seeking to "take control of all the routes for providing the world's leading countries and all continents with energy resources," including in Europe with the Nord Stream pipelines and the Ukrainian gas transit system. Lavrov accused the U.S. of using "coercive measures that are incompatible with fair competition," such as tariffs, sanctions, and prohibitions on certain countries engaging with others.

  • The interview with Lavrov was conducted in February 2026.

The players

Sergey Lavrov

The Foreign Minister of Russia, who accused the Trump administration of asserting its ambition to dominate the global energy sector.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration's "America First" energy policies have led to increased confrontation with competitors like Russia over control of global energy resources and supply routes.

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What they’re saying

“Blatantly unfair methods are being used against us: the operations of Russian oil companies such as Lukoil and Rosneft are being banned, and there are attempts to dictate and restrict Russia's trade, investment cooperation, and military-technical ties with our major strategic partners, including India as well as other BRICS states.”

— Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (TV BRICS)

“They tell us that the Ukraine problem should be resolved. In Anchorage, we accepted the US proposal. If we regard it 'as men,' it means that they proposed it and we agreed, so the problem must be resolved.”

— Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (TV BRICS)

What’s next

The U.S. and Russia are likely to continue their geopolitical competition over energy resources and supply routes, raising the potential for further economic and diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

The takeaway

Lavrov's comments underscore the Trump administration's assertive "America First" energy policies and its efforts to constrain competitors like Russia in the global energy sector, which is fueling growing geopolitical rivalries and the potential for escalating confrontation between the U.S. and its adversaries.