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The Kremlin is becoming more and more frustrated over American efforts to terminate the Nord Stream II pipeline from the Russian Federation to Germany, which will leave Berlin 70% reliant on Russian hydrocarbons, while paying next to nothing for her own defense under NATO spending guidelines, essentially relying on American protection. The Trump administration has made it clear to Germany its feeling on the issue and is increasing sanction pressure in conjunction with the U.S. Congress.
Washington’s threat to impose sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 and the second line of the TurkStream gas pipeline projects within the framework of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is an undue pressure on the European business and unfair competition, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, reported Russian state news agency TASS.
“That continues negative developments, continues the undue line on imposing various restrictions, undue pressure on the European business, which Russian companies also belong to,” he said, adding that it “continues unfair competition” in an attempt “to force Europeans to buy more expensive gas under less favorable terms.”
On June 4, US Senators Ted Cruz, Jeanne Shaheen and John Barrasso introduced a bill expanding sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to the Senate, according to the statement posted on Barrasso’ website. The document clarifies that US sanctions related to Nord Stream 2 apply to vessels engaged in all pipe laying activities, as well as to those who facilitate providing those vessels, as well as to those who provide insurance, port facilities, or tethering services for those vessels, and ultimately to any company that provides certification for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to begin operations, the statement said, added TASS.
German politicians have said that the actions of the Trump administration could mean the end of the NATO alliance. But, if Germany (Europe’s biggest economy) doesn’t want to pay for its own defense, and would rather have cheap gas from Moscow than energy security, isn’t the alliance already dead?
The Kremlin would like nothing better.
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