Europe does not intend to abandon the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project, despite the efforts of the United States. This was stated by the head of the State Department Mike Pompeo. He noted that Washington “did almost everything possible” to convince European countries, first of all Germany, to prevent the laying of the pipeline. Meanwhile, earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the United States is using geopolitical tools, including sanctions, in an attempt to gain advantages in economic competition.
Washington stated that they could not convince European business structures to refuse to participate in the construction of the Nord Stream-2 pipeline. This was announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the hearings in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate of the United States Congress.
“We have done almost everything possible to convince the Europeans, first of all Germany, not to build the Nord Stream 2, but at the moment we have not been successful,” said the head of the US Department of State.
He also, without giving details, pointed out the focus of Berlin to continue the implementation of the trans-Baltic project. At the same time, Washington continues to put pressure on the German side in the interests of Kiev.
“We work with them to see if there is a way to at least ensure the supply of some energy through Ukraine,” Pompeo stressed.
Note that the day before, the topic of US pressure on Europe on the use of Russian energy resources was touched on by Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a plenary session of the V International Arctic Forum "The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue."
“Sanctions today are being used even not as an instrument of geopolitical struggle, but as an element of simply competitive struggle in the world. Take the same "Nord Stream - 2", our American friends are fighting with him. But it is clearly beneficial for European partners, ”the Russian leader stated.
The head of state also recalled that Washington in exactly the same way opposed the project “gas in exchange for pipes”, which was implemented by the USSR and the FRG in the 1960s.
“It was the same with respect to Nord Stream 1.” If “Nord Stream - 1” did not exist, what would happen to the international energy sector now? I can tell you that. Prices would be even higher than today, that's all. Do you want to buy mineral resources at more expensive prices? No, ”Putin added.
At the same time last week, US Vice President Mike Pence, during a speech at the Atlantic Council at an event in the framework of the 70th anniversary of NATO, warned Berlin against falling into “dependence” on Russian energy resources that Germany was allegedly facing.
“If Germany continues the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as President Trump said, this could literally make Germany’s economy hostage to Russia,” Pence said.
In turn, in Berlin once again stressed that they are not going to change their position on the implementation of the pipeline project, despite comments from overseas.
“It didn’t surprise us, and we’ll not change our arguments regarding the distribution of the load, or regarding the Nord Stream 2,” said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
Meanwhile, earlier in Moscow, it was explained that with regard to Russian fuel supplies to Europe, it’s worth talking about interdependence. In addition, there can be no “safer and more stable route”, as well as an economically viable project than the pipeline.
“We categorically disagree with the claims that this leads to an increase in Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, because such projects do not attract someone’s dependence on something - they primarily provide interdependence, because (equally) Europeans depend on Russian gas, as well as Russia, as a supplier, depends on European demand, ”said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president.
Nord Stream 2 is two gas pipeline threads with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which are laid from the coast of Russia in the Baltic Sea to Germany. The highway is planned to be commissioned until the end of 2019.
According to the press service of Gazprom on Tuesday, April 9, at the moment, 978 km of pipes have been laid across the bottom of the Baltic Sea - 40% of the total length of the gas pipeline.
“In general, there are no fatal legal obstacles that would not allow us to say now that we can complete the construction of Nord Stream - 2 before the end of 2019,” said Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom, on March 31 the program “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin "on the channel" Russia 1 ".
