Page 12 - Gi flipbook September 2018

NEWS | INTERNATIONAL

EUROPE
Trump lashes Germany over gas

pipeline deal, calls it Russia’s ‘captive’

DONALD TRUMP the countries go out and
LAUNCHED a sharp public make a pipeline deal with
attack on Germany ahead Russia where they’re paying
of a NATO summit for billions of dollars into the
supporting a Baltic Sea gas coffers of Russia.
pipeline deal with Russia, “So we’re supposed
saying Berlin had become “a to protect you against
captive to Russia”. Russia and you pay billions
Meeting reporters with of dollars to Russia
NATO Secretary-General and I think that’s very
Jens Stoltenberg before the inappropriate,” Trump said
summit in Brussels, Trump at the residence of the US
also criticized the country ambassador in Brussels.
for failing to raise defence “Germany will have
spending more. He said it almost 70 per cent of
was “very inappropriate” their country controlled
that the United States by Russia with natural German Chanceller Angela Merkel
was paying for European gas. You tell me, is that
defence against Russia appropriate?” he asked, think it is something NATO and Ukraine also fear that
while Germany, the biggest while Stoltenberg listened. has to look at. It is very Russia may be diversifying
European economy, was At one point, the former inappropriate.” its gas routes into Europe
supporting gas deals with Norwegian Prime Minister Germany is Russia’s to be able to exploit its grid
Moscow, reports Reuters. pointed out that the NATO biggest export market for political reasons.
Trump was due to allies in Europe disagreed in Europe for gas, with a In June 2014, amid the
meet German Chancellor among themselves on ways dependency that may grow fallout over the Russian
Angela Merkel at the to reduce the continent’s further once Nord Stream annexation of Crimea
summit later in the day reliance on Russian gas. 2 is finished. The project months earlier, Russia cut
and met Russian President “Germany is totally would roughly double off Ukraine’s gas supplies
Vladimir Putin in Helsinki controlled by Russia, ‘cause Russia’s export volume via for weeks in what Kiev
immediately afterwards. they are getting 60 to 70 the Baltic route that goes said was an attempt to
Berlin has given political per cent of their energy from through the original Nord blackmail Ukraine.
support to the building of Russia and a new pipeline.” Stream pipeline. EU pressure on Russia
a new, $11-billion pipeline Trump renewed his call Over the next few helped to eventually solve
to bring Russian gas across for other NATO allies to decades, Europe’s own the conflict, as powerful
the Baltic Sea called Nord pay in more to the Western gas resources — which member states in Western
Stream 2, despite qualms alliance after years in which accounted for more than Europe grew concerned
among other EU states. US taxpayers have, he said, a third of its supplies in that the supply disruption
However, Merkel insists borne an “unfair” share of 2016 — are expected might have ripple effects
the project is a private military spending. to gradually disappear. across the continent.
commercial venture and “I think these countries (Britain, Norway and the Ukraine and parts of
is not funded by German have to step it up, not over Netherlands are Western Eastern Europe fear their
taxpayers. a 10 year period, they have and Northern Europe’s partners to the west may be
“When Germany makes to step it up immediately. biggest producers, primarily much less vocal next time
a massive oil and gas deal Germany is a rich country, relying on natural gas fields if they receive their natural
with Russia,” Trump said they talk about increasing it in the North Sea.) gas through a different
to Stoltenberg. “We’re a tiny bit by 2030. Well they As Europe’s own supplies set of pipelines, allowing
supposed to be guarding could increase it immediately, are running out, the United Russia to cut off its unruly
against Russia and Germany tomorrow, and have no States is hoping to gain neighbours with impunity.
goes out and pays billions problem,” Trump said. access to a profitable market Germany has since urged
and billions of dollars a “If you look at it, with growing demand. Russia to continue sending
year to Russia. Germany is a captive of But US economic gas through Ukraine even
“We’re protecting Russia. They got rid of interests only partially after the planned Nord
Germany, we’re protecting their coal plants, they got explain why the pipeline Stream 2 pipeline comes
France, we’re protecting rid of their nuclear, they’re conflict is now emerging as into operation, saying it
all of these countries. getting so much of their a key point of contention. was determined to avoid
And then numerous of oil and gas from Russia. I Nations such as Poland “damage” to Kiev. ■

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News.indd 7 14/08/2018 20:00