Russia’s opponents in Central and Eastern Europe are worried that President Biden is not prepared to fight hard to stop the Russia-Germany gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 – one of Vladimir Putin’s key priorities.
Why it matters: The fight is the first important test of whether Biden’s harsh rhetoric against the Russian leader will be linked by action. Russian opponents fear that Biden will not want to face Angela Merkel and that the Germans will not incur serious costs.
The whole picture: The completion of Nord Stream 2 will be a major geopolitical victory for Putin, giving him significant new leverage in Europe. Russia has cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine in retaliation for disputes.
- Bypassing Ukraine with a direct pipeline to Germany, it is helping Russia achieve its goal of isolating its former client state, which is now a struggling democracy, from Western Europe.
- Russian gas must currently pass through Ukraine on its way to Europe.
- The pipeline is more than 90% complete and can be completed by the summer without interfering.
Send the news: Until now, worrying messages have been conveyed privately to the Americans. But on Monday, a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios: “The Ukrainians are a little disappointed that President Biden did not commit during Munich. [Security] Conference to use every tool in its power to stop Nord Stream 2. ”
- “But it is not too late,” the source close to Zelensky added, “that the US should take decisive action, and the Ukrainians are hopeful that the Biden government will do so.”
The comment follows an unusual joint public statement Monday by the Polish and Ukrainian governments.
- The Polish and Ukrainian foreign ministers co-authored an open in Politico Europe urging Biden to follow the lead of the US Congress and do everything in his power to block the pipeline.
- “We call on US President Joe Biden to use all means at his disposal to prevent the project from being completed,” the ministers wrote.
- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ned Price said in a statement: “The Biden government is committed to using all available tools to counter Russian malice influence and to support transatlantic energy objectives.”
- Price added: “We were clear that businesses risk sanctions if they are involved in the Nord Stream 2 project. We continue to investigate entities involved in potentially sanctioned activities.”
Behind the scenes: On Friday, the Department of State submitted a mandatory report to Congress that was supposed to list all the vessels involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2, as well as any insurance companies or other companies involved in the pipeline.
- According to the Wall Street Journal, no new companies have been named that would be a target for U.S. sanctions, and this was confirmed to Axios by a source who read the report, which was not made public.
Sen Jim Risch of Idaho, the top Republican in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, condemned the report as weak and incomplete.
- “Maritime tracking information makes it clear that ships not covered in today’s report are currently active in supporting Nord Stream 2 construction,” Risch said in a statement. He demands an “immediate explanation” from Biden’s government.
- Senator Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.) also said that the government in Biden needs to do more to stop the pipeline and that it is looking forward to notifying an additional measure.
Between the lines: America’s partners in Eastern and Central Europe want Biden to make it clear that he is prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent the pipeline from being completed.
- This includes the sanction of the entire construction fleet and the indication of the willingness to sanction the German utility companies that receive the Russian energy.
- President Trump even directed trade threats at Merkel as part of his tough tactic to stop Nord Stream 2.
- Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo also paved the way for a wider range of sanctions, saying last summer he sounded a clear warning to companies helping and supporting Russia’s malicious influence projects, it will not be tolerated not. … Go out now, or dare the consequences. ‘
- Construction of Nord Stream 2 was halted during the Trump presidency.
While Team Biden said the pipeline is a ‘bad thing’ and that they want to stop it, the government has so far done little to suggest that it is prepared to lean in the fight.
- It seems that the Russians have taken note. The major construction on the Nord Stream 2 was resumed after Biden entered service.