Russia 'secretly working with environmentalists to oppose fracking'

We aren’t sure what to make of this. The Grauniad is reporting claims from NATO boss Anders Fogh Rasmussen that Russia has formed an unholy alliance with green groups to oppose the development of fracking in western Europe.

Rasmussen told a meeting of the  influential Chatham House that

“I have met allies who can report that Russia, as part of their sophisticated information and disinformation operations, engaged actively with so-called non-governmental organisations - environmental organisations working against shale gas - to maintain European dependence on imported Russian gas.”

If it’s true then we can understand the Russian motives.  They will have watched with concern how fracking has transformed the US energy market and the geo-political knock on effect.  The US suddenly gives much less of one about the world beyond it’s borders now it  no longer needs foreign oil so badly. Russia’s economic, and subsequently it’s political heft would be much diminished if the EU became self sufficient in energy.  

Sinister Russian plot or rabid NATO paranoia?  Make up your own mind by reading the article here…  

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/19/russia-secretly-working-with-environmentalists-to-oppose-fracking