Blinken, US Secretary of State, Criticizes German-Russian Gas Pipeline at NATO Meeting... "Damaging Allies' Interests"

Direct Opposition Delivered to German Foreign Minister
"Sanctions Needed for Participating Companies" Additional Sanctions Also Suggested

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pointed out at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) foreign ministers' meeting that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project connecting Germany and Russia could infringe on the interests of allied countries and harm European security, suggesting the possibility of additional sanctions. Since the German government has continued the pipeline project despite U.S. sanctions since the previous Donald Trump administration, diplomatic friction between the two countries is expected to persist.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 23rd (local time), Secretary Blinken attended the NATO foreign ministers' meeting and met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, stating, "President Joe Biden believes that the gas pipeline project between Germany and Russia is not beneficial to Europe and the United States," emphasizing, "Ultimately, it threatens the security of the European Union (EU) and risks damaging the interests of Eastern European allies such as Ukraine and Poland." He also indicated the possibility of additional sanctions by saying, "Companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 project should be subject to sanctions."

In a subsequent meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Blinken conveyed that President Biden strongly opposes the Nord Stream 2 project. Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated, "Secretary Blinken communicated to Germany concerns that Nord Stream 2 could increase energy dependence on Russia and potentially pose an economic threat to Ukraine."

Earlier, it was reported that 18 multinational companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 project withdrew from the consortium due to concerns over intensified U.S. sanctions. On January 19, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Russian companies and related individuals involved in the Nord Stream 2 project under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The Biden administration also submitted a report to Congress on the 16th of last month regarding the sanction situation, indicating that sanctions will continue.

The United States has opposed the Nord Stream 2 project for over ten years since the Barack Obama administration when the project was first planned, but Germany continues to proceed with construction despite U.S. opposition and sanctions. According to Russia's TASS news agency, 95% of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline connection section has been constructed, and at the current pace, construction is expected to be completed by September this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.