German Foreign Minister: "US Sanctions on Russian Gas Pipeline Violate International Law"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated that the United States' sanctions on the gas pipeline connection project 'Nord Stream 2' being pursued between Germany and Russia violate international law, and that the European Union (EU) is discussing ways to respond at the EU level. Although the gas pipeline project is known to be related to the partial withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Germany, the German government maintains its position to continue pushing forward with the pipeline project, suggesting that diplomatic friction between the two countries is expected to persist.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 11th (local time), Minister Maas said at a press conference held after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, "The United States is going down the wrong path by imposing sanctions on companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline," and emphasized, "At the EU level, we are discussing how the U.S. sanctions violate international law, and we made our position clear during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo."

Earlier, the German government strongly opposed the U.S. sanctions on Nord Stream 2 as interference in internal affairs and stated that it would continue to push forward with the project despite U.S. sanctions. On June 4th, a bill to expand sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project was introduced in the U.S. Senate, intensifying friction between the two countries. The U.S. government demanded a halt to the Nord Stream 2 project, claiming it threatens European security, but the German government has not accepted this. Subsequently, on the 29th of last month, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a reduction of 12,000 troops stationed in Germany, further worsening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Nord Stream 2 project involves constructing two gas pipelines connecting Russia's mainland to Germany across the Baltic Sea, with 93% of the entire route completed so far. However, since the end of last year, U.S. sanctions on the project have begun, causing the Swiss pipeline company Allseas, responsible for construction, to halt work, leaving the project suspended.

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