New US threats to impose sanctions against the port of Mukran in the city of Sassnitz over Nord Stream 2 are Washington’s next step in the economic war, said energy spokesman Steffen Kotrets, spokesman for the Alternative for Germany faction in the Bundestag.
Thus, he commented on the publication of the Handellsblatt newspaper about the letter of three American senators to the management of Fährhafen Sassnitz Gmbh – the port operator – with the threat of “financial destruction” if the company does not stop working on the construction of the gas pipeline.
According to Cotrets, the actions of the senators are interference in the affairs of Europe, so it is worth imposing sanctions against them.
“This is a new step by the United States, a kind of economic war against the sovereign energy policy, in particular, the gas policy of Germany and Europe,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Waldemar Gerdt, a member of the Bundestag Committee on International Affairs, supported the deputy’s opinion. According to him, the Americans are acting insolently and not as allies.
The parliamentarian stressed that the United States is acting in the interests of its economy, and the desire to sell liquefied gas to the EU may cost the Europeans dearly.
In July, according to the German newspaper Die Welt, the US increased pressure on European companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2.
On July 21, the House of Representatives of the US Congress approved the draft defense budget for the next fiscal year, which provides for tougher sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream.
Washington first imposed sanctions on the pipeline last December. Because of this, construction had to be suspended.
Currently, Nord Stream 2 is 94% complete.