WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) – The US government has threatened to extend sanctions for the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline. Under the U.S. Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions (CAATSA) law in 2017, companies involved in the continuation of the project could be screened for possible ramifications for these activities, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday. CAATSA also provides for sanctions against foreign companies for business with Russia, among others. Bypassing the Ukraine, the pipeline is to bring gas from Russia to Germany.
The Federal Government’s transatlantic coordinator, Peter Beyer, emphasized that Ukraine would be supplied with gas via the EU in the next few years. Germany had campaigned for this. “The argument that we fell on Kiev with Nord Stream 2 in the back does not pull,” said the CDU politician.
US president Donald Trump had already allowed punitive measures against certain companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany at the end of 2019. However, these sanctions from the “Law for the Protection of Europe’s Energy Security” primarily affect companies that place the ships to lay the pipes. The sanctions delayed the construction of the pipeline, but did not stop it, as the United States sought. The Russian president Wladimir Putin then announced that it would complete the work independently – regardless of foreign partners.
Last month, US senators made a move to expand the “Law to Protect Europe’s Energy Security”. In future, companies that provide ships for other activities will also be punished. For example, this could involve digging trenches for the pipeline. Companies that insure such ships should also be subject to sanctions. The same applies to companies that certify the pipeline so it can go live.
Beyer demanded that the USA grant Germany and the EU comprehensive energy sovereignty. “There is reason to suspect that Washington primarily wants to sell its own gas in Western Europe,” he said. The pipeline is also almost finished. It makes no sense to let them rot in the sea now.
Trump has long criticized Nord Stream 2. He accuses Germany of being militarily protected from Russia, but at the same time provides Moscow with high income from gas exports. Beyer admitted on Wednesday that Russia is increasingly becoming a threat to Europe. “From a perspective, more distance to Moscow is important to me” ./ lkl / cy / hgo / DP / he
