Russia's Druzhba Maneuver Proves Europe's Energy Trap Is Still Open

When Germany moved to replace Russian crude with Kazakh oil after 2022, the political framing was one of energy independence achieved. The infrastructure frame told a different story. The Druzhba pipeline runs through Russian territory; Kazakh crude using it still moves at Russian discretion. Berlin's energy planners understood this — and accepted it as an interim arrangement. What the May 1 suspension clarifies is that 'interim' has now become the permanent condition. Russia does not need to supply oil to Germany in order to control German access to oil.