Page 4 - FSUOGM Week 23

FSUOGM COMMENTARY FSUOGM

US lawmakers back more

sanctions on Nord Stream 2

US attempts to thwart the project could backfire by straining ties with Berlin

US THE US could impose more sanctions in an energy independence and gives Russia an open-
attempt to prevent Russia from completing the ing to exploit our allies. Congress must once
WHAT: Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany. But with a again take...action and stand in this pipeline’s
US lawmakers have mere 6% of the pipeline left to lay, further puni- path.”
proposed further tive actions may fail to thwart the project, and Nord Stream 2 had been due to start flowing
sanctions on Nord Stream could backfire by further straining Washington’s gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany by the end
2. relations with Berlin. of last year. But construction fell behind sched-
US Senators Ted Cruz, Republican, and ule because of Denmark’s delay in issuing new
WHY: Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, introduced a permits and was halted completely after the US
Washington claims the bipartisan bill to the Senate on June 4, named sanctions were imposed. Putin has said the pipe-
project is a threat to the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Clarifi- line could be finished by late 2020 or early 2021,
European energy security. cation Act (PEESA). The draft legislation builds using Russia’s own pipelaying vessels.
on a law passed in December that threatened The US has long opposed Nord Stream 2,
WHAT NEXT: sanctions against companies providing pipelay- blasting the project as a tool for Russia to assert
Washington’s actions ing vessels for Nord Stream 2’s construction. The political influence in Europe. Moscow has coun-
could provde ineffectual move prompted Swiss contractor Allseas to quit tered, saying Washington is simply looking out
and jeopardise ties with the project. for the commercial interests of US gas exporters.
Germany, a big supporter “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin contin-
of Nord Stream 2. ues to try to circumvent those sanctions, and so Laying the pipe
this new bill will once and for all clarify that those The new sanctions bill will need to be passed by
involved in any way with installing pipeline for both chambers of Congress and signed into law
the project will face crippling and immediate by US President Donald Trump.
American sanctions,” Cruz said on his website. It adds sanctions on companies provid-
Efforts must continue to counter Russia’s ing services or facilities for pipelaying vessels,
“malign influence” in Europe, he said. including welding equipment, retrofitting or the
“Nord Stream 2 threatens Ukraine, Europe’s tethering of the ships. These companies could

P4 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 23 10•June•2020