A publicly classified document reveals how Berlin is cooperating with Washington to avoid US sanctions on the North Stream 2 pipeline.
Germany said on Sunday (November 28) that it will continue to work closely with the United States to implement an agreement on the Beixi 2 pipeline, which has just been completed and will transport natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The United States and some European countries oppose the $11 billion pipeline bypassing Ukraine. They say this will make Europe too dependent on Russian natural gas, but some other European governments say that this connection is essential to ensure energy supplies.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is working closely with the US government to implement a joint statement on pipelines.
“We fundamentally reject sanctions among allies,” it said in response to Reuters A 6-page document obtained by Axios, marked “Confidential”, Which stated that Berlin has urged U.S. congressmen not to approve the North Stream 2 pipeline because doing so would “weaken” the credibility of the United States and “eventually undermine transatlantic unity.”
The Biden administration has waived sanctions on pipeline operators and reached an agreement with Germany in July, despite the fact that it imposed further sanctions on Transadria Ltd and its ships, which are linked to Russia.
A group of Republicans in the U.S. Senate stated on November 8 that they had introduced legislation that would impose mandatory sanctions on North Stream 2.
If Russia uses energy as a weapon in its relations with Ukraine, Germany has agreed to take action, but the agreement does not provide specific criteria for judgment.
The November 19 document obtained by Axios outlines the steps Germany will take in the event of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including “strong public information” condemning Russia’s actions and evaluating the suspension of political meetings.
Axios stated that at the EU level, the document stated that Germany is “actively participating in the process of determining other restrictive measures options”.
Axios added that the document also stated that Nord Stream 2 “as long as it ensures reasonable gas transportation, it will not pose a threat to Ukraine” and called the potential sanctions on the pipeline “Putin’s victory” because it will divide Western allies.
The document also stated that Germany and the United States will support investments with a target of US$1 billion through the Ukrainian Green Fund, including investments from third countries and private sector entities. Germany will provide an initial grant of at least US$175 million to the fund.
