The British Foreign Secretary joined at the last minute urging NATO allies to stop Beixi No. 2 Natural Gas Pipeline, Warned that if European countries depend on Moscow for energy, Moscow will use its position.
Liz Truss also warned at her first NATO foreign ministers meeting in Riga that if It invaded Ukraine, Pledge that NATO will make an economic and diplomatic response.
Britain has always been at the forefront of NATO countries, just like Poland, Ukraine And the Baltic countries question the wisdom of the pipeline, which will transport natural gas from Russia to Europe through the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine and depriving Kiev of energy transportation fees.
As a sign of her determination to challenge Russia, Truss also rode in a tank with the British army in Estonia. The photo is reminiscent of her role model. Margaret Thatcher.
It remains to be seen to what extent Britain can promote opposition to North Stream 2, but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised this question in a foreign policy speech at the City Hall this month. He said: “We hope our friends will know Soon there will be a choice: to transport more Russian hydrocarbons in the huge new pipeline, and to support Ukraine and support the cause of peace and stability.”
Truss wrote In the Sunday Telegraph article: “The Beixi 2 project allows Russia to strengthen its control over those countries that rely on it for natural gas, thereby posing the risk of undermining European security.”
Yuri Vitlenko, the head of the Ukrainian national energy company Naftogaz, spoke at Chatham House in London on Monday, praising Johnson’s remarks as “timely and helpful.” He added: “The United Kingdom is an important ally. Boris Johnson does not seem to be afraid of confronting Putin. He calls by his name.” He pointed out that the United Kingdom cannot be decisive because the outcome may depend on the EU energy law. .
Vitrenko believes that the Russian pipeline currently passing through Ukraine has played an “important deterrent effect for a full-scale war”, because once Beixi No. 2 natural gas begins to flow, if the invasion occurs, “Russian revenue will not be affected, and European consumers will not be affected.” Impact.-What we will hear are some deep concerns from European politicians, but this will not change Russia’s policy or military aggression.”
It is believed that since most of the construction has been completed, the long-term economic and political struggle with the 1,200-mile pipeline has basically failed, and because Biden Administration, In and Germany In May, sanctions on the $10 billion pipeline were lifted. Instead, Germany agreed to provide subsidies to Ukraine to transition to green energy.
But British ministers who intend to support Ukraine do not believe that the battle to contain North Stream — a battle mainly fought within the European Union — will fail. They pointed out that the second paragraph of the German-U.S. statement in June said: “If Russia tries to use energy as a weapon or takes further aggression against Ukraine, Germany will take action at the national level and urge effective measures in Russia. Europe. At the level, including sanctions, to restrict Russia’s ability to export to Europe in the energy sector (including natural gas) and/or other economic sectors.”
The United Kingdom claims that Russia is restricting the supply of natural gas in a way that the agreement is trying to exclude, thereby endangering its European allies. Many U.S. Republican senators strongly agree with this view, and they are now blocking the defense budget to stop North Stream.
Britain is also testing the waters to see how the new German alliance will deal with North Stream 2, and pointed out that the alliance agreement remains silent on this issue. British officials believe that, at least in terms of rhetoric, the new government is much tougher in defending human rights violations in Ukraine and Russia.
This week, the German green politician Oliver Krischer was recommended by some to join the new climate and economic super ministry. He told the Frankfurt Report: “Since the demand for natural gas in Germany or Europe will not increase, I don’t think so. Requires North Stream 2. There is no commitment to this in the alliance agreement.”
In order to increase the sense of policy change, the German energy regulator suspended the certification of the pipeline on November 16th, citing that its owner, Russia’s Gazprom, Established a German subsidiary for the German branch of pipelines that did not meet the domestic legal requirements.
