The US State Department recalled the possibility of applying sanctions against companies that are involved in the completion of the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
“As the president noted, Nord Stream 2 is a bad project for Germany, Ukraine, and our partners and allies in Central and Eastern Europe. The State Department is monitoring efforts to complete the construction of Nord Stream 2 and evaluating information about companies that seem are involved in the project, “Secretary of State Antony Blinken said March 18.
He noted that the previous US administrations were of the opinion that this is a geopolitical project of the Russian Federation, the purpose of which is to divide Europe and weaken European energy security.
“The sanctions legislation passed by Congress in 2019 and expanded in 2020 has significant bipartisan majority support. The Biden administration is committed to enforcing this legislation.
The State Department warns that any company involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 risks being subject to US sanctions and must immediately stop working on the pipeline, “said Antony Blinken.
The construction of the Russian gas pipeline is in its final stages, but with new US sanctions, chances are that the project will never be completed, despite the fact that Germany does not want to abandon it.
At least 18 European companies have ended their participation in the Nord Stream 2 project or are in the process of withdrawing from it due to the threat of US sanctions.
On February 24, it became known that Wintershall Dea, one of the five companies participating in the project, had stopped its funding.
According to German media reports, the German government and parliamentary factions of the ruling coalition are considering four options for the further development of events with the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline against the backdrop of the threat of US sanctions.
