Christos Marafatsos

U.S. Ambassador Reportedly Pushed Bulgaria to Route LNG Through Favored Greek Firm

A Wall Street Journal report has intensified scrutiny of U.S. diplomatic involvement in Balkan energy deals, alleging that the U.S. ambassador to Athens pressed Bulgaria to buy liquefied natural gas through a Greek company favored by Washington. The episode raises fresh questions about the line between energy diplomacy and commercial influence in a region still trying to reduce dependence on Russian supplies. The reporting also places renewed attention on the network of intermediaries and politically connected figures moving between official meetings and private dealmaking across Europe.