ABSTRACT
This chapter will revisit the transatlantic conflict concerning the Trans-Siberian Urengoy gas pipeline of 1981–1982. It will investigate if the important gas potential of the Netherlands, which provided the Dutch government with an opening for manoeuvre to pursuit its own interests in Cold War politics. This chronological study of archival sources offers insights into the choices available to the Dutch government to pursue its own interests. These interests appeared to be mainly of economic character and much less related to the geopolitical game of the Cold War. The Ministry of Economic Affairs succeeded in pushing the national economic priorities of conserving the gas reserves for long-term national use. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was certainly aware of the international geopolitical potential of the Groningen gas fields, especially after January 1981. It tried to translate this potential into a stronger position within European cooperation. But as it was strictly tied by both these Dutch energy conservation policies and the economic need for a peaceful international trade relation with the United States, it was unable to acquire support from the larger European states.
