United States: rejection of Nord Stream 2 combines political opponents

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The Nord Stream 2 Pipeline that would run through the Baltic sea and Russian natural gas directly to Germany. US-Republicans and Democrats agree: The project is a very bad idea.

Nord Stream 2 – if Angela Merkel is listening to these words, she gets now is probably a headache. The Pipeline, which was seen by the German government originally as a purely power-political project, has now developed into a veritable foreign policy point of contention.

The Ukraine is against the Pipeline, which runs through the Baltic sea, because you are so important, revenue from the transit of gas will be lost. In addition, there are Worries that with the elimination of gas transit, the guarantee for the protection of the country from further Russian aggression lose. Also EU partners such as Denmark and France, against the project more than skeptical.

US Ambassador Richard Grenell clear words against the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

On the other side of the Atlantic, it looks not better. On The Contrary. US politicians are closed against the planned Pipeline. It starts at the very top with President Donald Trump, who said, with Nord Stream 2 Germany do to the “hostage of Russia”. And it continues with his emissary.

The US Ambassador in Germany, Richard Grenell wrote in a guest post for the DW that Germany and Europe would make the project dependent on Russia. The “poses risks to Europe and the West as a whole and makes us all insecure,” says the Ambassador. “Nord Stream 2 would increase the vulnerability of Europe to Russian blackmail in the energy sector.”

Nord Stream 2 is not a term for Americans

Strong words from the policy. But in the population, the planned Baltic Pipeline suggests no high waves. DW spoke with 13 journalists in the US capital Washington DC to a group of people is generally not well informed about international policy developments. Most were able to start with the concept of nothing. Bridget Reed Morawski, energy journalist at the industry-insider smart letter has been reported on North Stream 2. But the people in your environment, the Pipeline is not a term.

“Most of my friends here in DC have no idea what is Nord Stream 2,” said Morawski. “And I have to say, are usually better informed than my friends in the Rest of the country.”

Most ordinary consumers have never heard of Nord Stream 2. But the Pipeline has made it to the United States after all, Republicans and Democrats, who are usually in good agreement, to bring together. “The U.S. population may not be up-to-date with regard to energy security in Europe, but people in politics and experts party, there is overarching Consensus,” said Dr. Agnia Grigas, Senior Fellow at the US think-tank Atlantic Council and author of the book “The New Geopolitics of Natural Gas”.

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Transatlantic relations in crisis

Germany’s “his head in the noose”

Both Democrats and Republicans are against the proposed gas pipeline and keep up with their opinion behind the mountain. “Putin’s Pipeline is a trap,” said Republican Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming, the energy and environmental news site, E&E News in may. “Germany seems to be willing to stick his head in the noose. I think this is a terrible mistake.”

The Democrat, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, presented together with the Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas, a draft law of sanctions for companies, which are involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2. Shaheen said, Russia will use cheap Gas, the supply of energy to authorize to Europe to monopoly and to endanger the stability of the Region. The United States could not stand idly by, “while the Kremlin this Troy builds niche horse.”

Dr. Grigas from the Atlantic Council considered the planned Pipeline with concern. “Nord Stream 2 is a bad Deal for Europe and for Germany,” the Gas expert. “This would strengthen Russia’s political influence in Germany and the corruption flow to Europe, opening the door.”

Grigas also, it is a paradox that Germany is advocating for peace in the Ukraine, but on the other hand, the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline demand and money in the pockets of the Kremlin regime guide. Germany had to recognize that there is much more Gas for export on the global energy market today, “your”. Berlin does not have to depend on Russia.