U.S. envoy warns sanctions still an option against Nord Stream 2

Economy 17:40 13.11.2018

The United States could yet impose new sanctions to try to block construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea to the European Union, the U.S. ambassador to the EU said on Tuesday.

Asked if Donald Trump could take further measures to thwart a project which the president has said would leave EU countries even more beholden to Moscow for their energy, Gordon Sondland said: “We have not deployed the full set of tools yet that could significantly undermine if not outright stop the project.”

Addressing an audience at the European Policy Centre think-tank in Brussels, Sondland added: “We’re hoping that the opposition to the project works organically because the EU and its member countries agree that dependence on Russian energy is not a good long-term geopolitical decision.

“If that philosophy is not adopted and Nord Stream continues, then the president has many, many other tools at his disposal — I’m not going to go through the litany — to try and curb and stop the project.”

In August, Trump signed new sanctions on Russia into law that the pipeline’s promoter, Gazprom, said could hold up some of its projects. For now, construction is continuing with the participation of some major EU companies, despite opposition from many EU states and from the EU executive.

Germany, the pipeline’s destination, refuses to join EU opposition, describing it as a private enterprise.

Last week, on a visit to Poland which is a vocal critic of Nord Stream 2, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Trump was maintaining the option of imposing sanctions.

Washington has not detailed potential actions but one way in which the United States could undermine the project would be by penalizing big multinational firms working on it.

Sondland stressed that U.S. opposition was not based on hopes of exporting more U.S. gas to Europe but on concern that Russia could increase its leverage on key allies in the U.S.-led NATO alliance through its control of their energy supplies.

“We don’t want to see someone’s gas turned off in the middle of the winter when there is a political crisis,” he said.

“When Europe is vulnerable, the United States is vulnerable and we don’t want to put ourselves in that position.”

Gazprom is the sole shareholder in Nord Stream 2, shouldering half of the 9.5 billion euro ($10.7 billion) construction cost. Gazprom’s Western partners are Germany’s Uniper and Wintershall, Anglo-Dutch group Royal Dutch Shell, France’s Engie and Austria’s OMV.

($1 = 0.8888 euros)

Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney - VIDEO

News line

Armenia's Political Dilemma: Analyst Suggests Peace Treaty with Azerbaijan as Pivotal Step
14:40 13.05.2024
What can a temperature rise of 3 degrees do to Earth?
What can a temperature rise of 3 degrees do to Earth?
14:15 13.05.2024
ANAMA reveals number of landmines found in liberated territories last week
13:50 13.05.2024
Ukrainian MP Comments on Putin's Defense Minister Shake-Up
13:33 13.05.2024
Inflation in Azerbaijan drops to 0,7%
Inflation in Azerbaijan drops to 0,7%
13:17 13.05.2024
Yerevan protesters gather outside Foreign Ministry building hosting Mirzoyan-Borg meeting
13:00 13.05.2024
Admission plan of Türkiye-Azerbaijan University is approved
Admission plan of Türkiye-Azerbaijan University is approved
12:46 13.05.2024
Ian Borg: Malta intends to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in achieving comprehensive peace
12:29 13.05.2024
President receives Governor-General of Tuvalu, Prime Minister of Tonga, Foreign Minister of Commonwealth of Bahamas
12:20 13.05.2024
Baku hosts training seminar on preparation for COP29
11:50 13.05.2024
Azerbaijan approves admission plan of Karabakh University
11:28 13.05.2024
Azerbaijan to relocate another group of residents to Shusha
11:00 13.05.2024
Bulgarian King Ferdinand I returns to his country after 36 years
Bulgarian King Ferdinand I returns to his country after 36 years
10:38 13.05.2024
US Adds 37 Chinese Companies to sanctions list
US Adds 37 Chinese Companies to sanctions list
10:14 13.05.2024
Protesters begin blocking Yerevan streets demanding Pashinyan's resignation
09:56 13.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Baku hosts II ICESCO Ministerial Conference on PISA
09:43 13.05.2024
Georgian Parliament approves foreign influence bill in third reading
09:33 13.05.2024
President of Türkiye to receive Greek PM in Ankara
09:00 13.05.2024
Arsenal keep up title pressure as Trossard sinks Manchester United
Arsenal keep up title pressure as Trossard sinks Manchester United
23:00 12.05.2024
7 killed in missile attack against Russia's Belgorod
22:05 12.05.2024
OSCE Chair-in-Office Ian Borg to visit South Caucasus
21:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expresses condolences to Afghanistan
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expresses condolences to Afghanistan
20:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Parliament Speaker embarks on working visit to Uzbekistan
19:26 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani MFA expresses condolences to Brazil
19:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for May 13
Azerbaijan weather forecast for May 13
18:00 12.05.2024
Catalonia goes to polls in vote that will gauge support for independence
17:20 12.05.2024
Massachusetts man who received first-ever pig kidney transplant dies at 62
Massachusetts man who received first-ever pig kidney transplant dies at 62
16:13 12.05.2024
Fire destroys one of biggest shopping centres in Warsaw
15:49 12.05.2024
Border guards of Russia leave the border regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan
15:20 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani para-taekwondo fighter crowned European champion
Azerbaijani para-taekwondo fighter crowned European champion
14:55 12.05.2024
Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney - VIDEO
14:33 12.05.2024
Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says
14:01 12.05.2024
Thousands protest against ‘foreign influence’ bill in Georgia
13:06 12.05.2024
Israeli military intensifies bombardment of Jabalia refugee camp
Israeli military intensifies bombardment of Jabalia refugee camp
13:03 12.05.2024
Ethiopian FM, Azerbaijani ambassador discuss COP29
12:20 12.05.2024
Swiss Vice Chancellor Andre Simonazzi dies at 55 while hiking
11:45 12.05.2024
Luka Modric set to depart from Real Madrid at season’s end
Luka Modric set to depart from Real Madrid at season’s end
11:00 12.05.2024
Lithuania voting in presidential election and citizenship referendum
10:23 12.05.2024
Russian Prime Minister to have 10 deputies
Russian Prime Minister to have 10 deputies
10:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani Deputy Defense Minister placed on reserve
09:42 12.05.2024
Hamısı