The Geopolitical Ripple Effect of Israel’s Natural Gas Exports
The development of Israel’s giant Tamar and Leviathan natural gas fields has markedly shifted the regional gas market’s geopolitical dynamics. Israel’s transformation from a gas importer to an exporter has notably impacted its relationships with neighbouring Jordan and Egypt. Israeli exports have been pivotal for Egyptian LNG exports, compensating for Egypt’s declining indigenous gas availability. Jordan, once reliant on LNG imports, cut its LNG procurement, given its access to stable Israeli pipeline supplies. In 2022 alone, according to CEDIGAZ database, Israel’s gas exports reached 2.9 billion cubic meters (bcm) to Jordan and 6.5 bcm to Egypt, contributing to the easing of the global LNG market strain. Looking ahead, Israel aspires to broaden its gas export footprint, potentially through global LNG exports or a pipeline to Europe.