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President Donald Trump’s energy playbook just got a name people can repeat at cocktail parties: the “Vertical Corridor.” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum explained it in a no-nonsense interview, and it is worth paying attention to. This plan uses U.S. LNG and pipelines through Greece to give friends in Central and Eastern Europe an alternative to Russian gas.
What the Vertical Corridor is — plain and simple
The Vertical Corridor is a north–south pipeline and regasification route that runs from Greece up into the Balkans and Central Europe. Think of Alexandroupolis and Revithoussa as the front door where liquefied natural gas (LNG) arrives. From there the gas moves through the Greece‑Bulgaria interconnector (IGB) and on into Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Ukraine. The goal is to reverse old flows and give allies a real choice other than buying Russian gas.
Why this matters for security and the economy
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum put it bluntly: this is about “selling energy to our friends and allies so they don’t have to buy from our adversaries.” That is both practical and patriotic. When Europe can import American LNG and route it through the Vertical Corridor, fewer euros and rubles end up funding hostile regimes. It helps allies stay independent and gives American workers and companies new markets. Greece, with strong backing from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the U.S. delegation including Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, is being framed as the gateway for this strategy.
How the administration is pushing it — and the hurdles
The White House’s National Energy Dominance Council has been active in Athens and Washington pushing the paperwork and the deals. Transmission operators filed for new capacity products called Route 2 and Route 3 so bookings can be made month by month. Operators are upgrading the IGB and meter stations, and Alexandroupolis adds roughly 5 bcm of regas capacity to the mix. But don’t let the optimism fool you: regulators must approve new products, markets still test demand, and full scaling will take staged upgrades and financing support from agencies like EXIM and DFC. Timelines point to bigger volumes by 2026–2027, if commercial partners sign on.
Why conservatives should cheer — and what to watch
Conservatives should like this: it uses American energy strength as diplomacy, helps allies, and boosts U.S. industry. But talk is cheap. The administration must turn policy speeches and meetings into signed offtake deals and real pipeline capacity. Congress and the federal finance arms should speed smart funding and clear red tape so the Vertical Corridor becomes a functioning supply chain, not just a White House talking point. If it works, it will be a neat example of energy dominance turned into foreign policy muscle. If it stalls, Europe will keep buying from whoever offers the easiest contract — and that would be on us.
