The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under construction is important for Germany from the standpoint of ensuring energy security and is not a lever of influence on Russia. This statement was made by the head of the German Foreign Ministry Heiko Maas in an interview with the t-online portal.
“According to our assessment, as before, Nord Stream 2 makes sense from the point of view of energy policy. Of course, this project cannot be viewed independently of Russia’s behavior. But Nord Stream 2 is increasingly being hailed as a kind of panacea that can be used to reason with Russia. However, this does not correspond to reality in conditions when Europe simultaneously buys Russian gas through Ukraine and Turkey, and the United States buys oil in large volumes from Russia, ”Maas said.
On the same day, speaking at an event of the German Atlantic Society, the minister once again expressed support for the project, calling it difficult to terminate it.
According to the minister, the possible termination of cooperation on the project with Russia will bring it closer to China, which will lead to the emergence of “the largest economic and military complex in the world.” Such an outcome cannot meet the interests of Germany, Maas stressed.
The minister noted that a possible meeting between the leaders of the United States and Russia would be useful not only for Russian-American relations, but also for the situation around the world as a whole, Gazeta.ru reports.
On the eve of the Minister of Energy and Economy of Germany Peter Altmeier called not to politicize the project “Nord Stream – 2”. He noted that in 50 years, natural gas supplies have never acted as a political weapon between East and West, and the construction of liquefied gas terminals makes it possible to show independence from gas coming through the pipeline if Russia tries to politically pressure the country.
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany had made a choice in favor of building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, despite criticism from EU countries. According to her, there is a political struggle around the project, but Berlin should support trade with Moscow, including in the energy sector.
Nord Stream 2 is being built from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea with the aim of direct and reliable gas supplies to Europe. It involves the construction of two lines of the gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters. m per year. The EU countries mainly support the project and participate in its implementation. Poland, the Baltic States, Ukraine and the United States are opposed.
In December 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on the gas pipeline, as a result of which the Swiss Allseas was forced to stop laying. In Berlin, they support the completion of the project and reject Washington’s unilateral extraterritorial sanctions.