The U.S. will make sure the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany won’t go ahead if Russian troops invade Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told NPR on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Germany’s ambassador to the U.S. appeared to support Price’s strong rhetoric on the strategically significant pipeline that would circumvent Ukrainian transit infrastructure and deliver Russian gas directly to Germany, eliminating one of the last deterrents Ukraine has against an invasion, per Axios’ Zachary Basu.
Driving the news: “I want to be very clear: If Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,” Price said in his interview with NPR’s Ari Shapiro on the Putin-backed project.
– “I’m not going to get into the specifics. We will work with Germany to ensure it does not move forward.”
– Price noted to Shapiro that Nord Stream 2 was not yet operational, which meant it was “leverage for us” and for Germany. “It is leverage for the trans-Atlantic community because gas is not flowing,” he added.
What they’re saying: Emily Haber, Germany’s ambassador to the U.S., tweeted Wednesday: “The US and Germany jointly declared last summer: if Russia uses energy as a weapon or if there is another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia will have to pay a high price.”
– She added that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock “stated clearly: nothing will be off the table, including Nord Stream 2.”
……..
- Discussion
-
Biden admin says Nord Stream 2 pipeline "will not move forward" if Russia invades Ukraine https://t.co/oVOgrgscso
— Axios (@axios) January 27, 2022
The DC belief, commonly found in the Biden WH, that Germany remains a devoted NATO member is a dangerous illusion. Berlin shows its lack of commitment to the Alliance through low defense spending & acting neutral in the Ukraine crisis. Time to admit it. https://t.co/piewBfBXbS
— John Schindler (@20committee) January 25, 2022
A few days ago the head of the German Navy committed a "Kinsley gaffe" by saying some difficult truths about his country, Russia and Ukraine. So he got cancelled immediately.
This scandal offers an excellent opportunity to assess Berlin's actual views.https://t.co/piewBfBXbS
— John Schindler (@20committee) January 25, 2022
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.