US and Germany still at odds over Nord Stream 2

WASHINGTON, April 28 / TASS /. Washington and Berlin do not agree on their approach to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, but that does not affect relations between the two allies, a senior US administration official said.

During a press appeal on national security and foreign policy during the first 100 days of US President Joe Biden’s tenure, the official was asked how the incumbent US administration acts when it does not he disagrees with his allies on some issues, citing Nord Stream 2 as an example.

In response, the official said that having an alliance or close partnership with another country does not mean that you agree on every issue, but that you are “globally, strategically aligned with the main challenges you face. “.

“We have been very clear, for example, with the German government that we think Nord Stream 2 is a bad deal. They have a different point of view, and we have taken steps, including concrete steps, to highlight the degree to which we are committed to trying to get them to change their view of this pipeline, ”the official said.

“But fundamentally, our relations with Germany, our relations with our other key European and transatlantic partners, are at the heart of our approach to the rest of the world, including Russia,” he added.

Washington openly opposes the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and is engaged in active efforts to shut down the project in order to primarily strike a blow at Moscow’s interests and to support Ukraine as the country used to deliver natural gas from Russia to Europe. In addition, many experts point out that the United States is trying to convince Europe to buy its LNG which is much more expensive than the natural gas that Russia delivers by pipeline. In recent years, the United States has passed a series of legislative acts that pave the way for unilateral sanctions, including against companies involved in the project.

The Nord Stream 2 project involves the construction of two pipeline chains with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Construction of the pipeline was suspended at the end of 2019 when Swiss pipelaying company Allseas halted work due to Washington sanctions. However, work resumed in December 2020 after a one-year hiatus. The new pipeline will double the capacity of the Nord Stream gas pipeline currently in operation, largely following the same route.