US Secretary of State in Berlin Solution to pipeline dispute by August?

Status: 23.06.2021 13:57

During his inaugural visit to Berlin, US Secretary of State Blinken demonstrated unity with his counterpart Maas. In the dispute over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, an agreement is expected soon. The German government wants to find a solution to the transatlantic dispute over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline by August. This was announced by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin after a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Chancellor’s trip to Washington in mid-July would certainly also be a suitable date, said Maas. But in August the US Congress will again deal with possible sanctions. “It is extremely important to us to achieve results that can also be supported in Washington,” emphasized the SPD politician.

USA: Nord Stream 2 is “Russia’s geopolitical project”

Blinken warned that Russia could use energy to leverage Ukraine. “Our goal is to ensure that Russia does not use energy as a means of coercion, as a weapon against Ukraine or anyone else in Europe,” said the US Secretary of State, who told his counterpart Maas in the run-up to the second Libya conference met in Berlin. The US continues to believe that the pipeline is a geopolitical project by Russia that threatens Europe’s energy security. In view of the difference of opinion between Washington and Berlin on this point, Blinken emphasized: “It happens from time to time among friends.”

USA waived sanctions

For years, the US has been against the construction of the Baltic Sea pipeline, which is supposed to pump gas from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine. Nevertheless, in May the new administration of US President Joe Biden partially gave up its longstanding resistance to the project and waived sanctions against the operating company – also out of consideration for relations with Germany.

Since then, talks have been going on between Germany and the USA about how to proceed. In essence, it is about how Ukraine, as a previous transit country, can secure long-term income, since it is dependent on Russian billions for gas transfers. The corresponding contract between Russia and Ukraine is limited to 2024

The German government remains committed to completing the Nord Stream 2 project despite strong objections from Washington. Photo: AP According to Bloomberg, Foreign Minister Maas affirmed that it is too early to conclude that the US will not impose additional sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project. Maas emphasized, in fact, in US politics, neither Democrats nor Republicans have a positive view of the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. However, Minister Maas expects that the gas cooperation project between Moscow and Berlin will no longer be a conflict in US-German relations. The US has repeatedly voiced its objections and continuously put pressure on the implementation of the Russian gas project. Most recently, Washington imposed sanctions on 13 Russian ships and 3 companies related to the project, but lifted sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG – the company operating the Stream project. The North 2, and CEO Matthias Warnig. Speaking at a press conference on May 19, Foreign Minister Maas said the US decision was “a constructive step”, and affirmed that Berlin would continue to dialogue with its partners in Washington. The German government remains committed to completing the Nord Stream 2 project despite strong objections from Washington, and asserts that this pipeline will help ensure Europe’s energy security and is completely a economic project. In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 said that the Nord Stream 2 project is ready to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany.