Greek sources: Washington has reservations about the East Mediterranean gas pipeline

The United States has expressed reservations about the EastMed pipeline, which is designed to supply Europe with natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean.

The United States has expressed reservations about an undersea pipeline designed to supply Europe with natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean, Greek government sources said, in an apparent diversion from a project backed by the administration of former President Donald Trump.

Another source said that Washington, under President Joe Biden's administration, informed Greece of its concerns in a recent memo.

Conflicting demands for sovereignty over gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean represent a point of tension between Turkey and Cyprus, while Turkey opposes the pipeline project.

Greece, Cyprus and Israel approved an agreement to extend the EastMed pipeline, which has been under planning for several years. The three countries aim to reach a final investment decision this year, and to complete the project, which will cost six billion euros ($6.82 billion) by 2025, to help Europe diversify its energy sources.

"The US side expressed reservations to the Greek side on the rationale for the EastMed pipeline, and raised issues about its economic feasibility and environmental (issues)," a source said.

There was no immediate comment from Israel or Turkey.

Concerns had been raised about the financial viability of the project before, but Greece, Israel and Cyprus supported it.

Ankara reiterated that any plans it excludes in the eastern Mediterranean are doomed to failure, and that it will defend its rights in the region. It also opposed the "EastMed" project, saying that the plan will not succeed without Turkey's approval.

The first news about the American reservations about the project was published in the Greek media.

The official stated that Greece was informed of the American views, and that the United States believed that priority should be given to connecting the electricity networks of countries in the region.