Page 6 - FSUOGM Week 16 2021

FSUOGM COMMENTARY FSUOGM

Biden avoids taking stance

on Nord Stream 2

Biden appears to be following a realpolitik course towards Nord Stream 2

US US President Joe Biden announced additional expelled 10 diplomats from Moscow’s embassy
sanctions measures against Russia on April 15, in Washington.
WHAT: in order to “defend our national interests and Biden also spoke on the phone last week with
Biden has announced impose costs for Russian government actions Russian President Vladimir Putin. He warned
more Russian sanctions. that seek to harm us.” However, the leader Moscow against any further malign activities,
described Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline as but also stressed he was eager to de-escalate ten-
WHY: a “complicated issue,” once again refusing to sions with the US’ Cold War enemy.
The US blames Russia for comment on whether Washington will follow “I was clear with President Putin that we
interfering with the 2020 through with extra sanctions against the project. could have gone further, but I chose not to do so.
presidential election, US officials have accused Russia of interfering I chose to be proportionate. The US is not look-
among other malign with the 2020 presidential election and hacking ing to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict
activities. into the computer systems of the US government with Russia. We want a stable, predictable rela-
and Fortune 500 companies. Russia has also tionship,” he said. “If Russia continues to inter-
WHAT NEXT: been amassing a large military force on Ukraine’s fere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take
Biden has repeatedly border and fighting in the Donbass region has further actions to respond.”
avoided taking a firm intensified in recent weeks. “Now is the time to de-escalate. The way
stance on Nord Stream 2, The US measures announced last week forward is through thoughtful dialogue and
suggesting Washington included sanctions on six Russian technology diplomatic process,” Biden continued. “The US
may how the pipeline to firms that support the country’s intelligence ser- is prepared to continue constructively to move
proceed, with conditions vice’s cyber-programme and 32 entities and indi- forward that process.”
attached. viduals alleged to have been involved in election
interference and disinformation campaigns. The
Biden administration has also imposed limits on Realpolitik
US financial interaction with Russia’s sovereign Biden’s speech made no mention of Nord Stream
debt, and sanctioned eight figures “associated 2, and asked by a reporter what his intentions
with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It has also were considering the pipeline, he said the issue

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