The Netherlands should phase out Russian LNG imports by end-2026. Energy dependency on an adversarial supplier that has already weaponized energy exports constitutes a strategic vulnerability that outweighs temporary consumer costs.
Schmidt warns that energy dependencies embedded in infrastructure become harder to reverse under pressure than to avoid under choice, while Thatcher argues that sovereign states must accept economic costs to preserve independence from those who would hold them hostage. Lee Kuan Yew emphasizes trading single-point Russian vulnerability for diversified supply relationships with multiple partners, and Kautilya calculates that eliminating strategic vulnerability before weaponization costs less than cure after subordination.
The council divides only on transition mechanics — whether complete energy independence is achievable for small states or whether managed diversification among multiple suppliers is the realistic goal.