“With German-American relations at their lowest ebb since World War II, McCain’s frustration with German policy offers a reminder that the American transatlantic establishment’s exasperation with Germany runs deep and is bipartisan. Trump’s outrageous taunts have prompted many Germans to forget that Barack Obama also pressured Berlin to spend more on defense.” – by Matthew […]
Russia
Nord Stream 2 Could Sever Transatlantic Ties (Bloomberg)
“The gas pipeline is now a game of chicken between Germany and the U.S., in which both players appear reckless.” – by Andreas Kluth
Germany Weighs Measures Against U.S. Over Nord Stream Threat (Bloomberg)
“Germany is preparing to strike back against the U.S. if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to kill off the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline with additional sanctions.” – by Patrick Donahue and Brian Parkin
New U.S. Sanctions For Nord Stream 2? What’s At Stake (Forbes)
“A new proposal to clarify and expand U.S. sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been just introduced in the U.S. Senate. Spearheaded by Senators Ted Cruz (R) and Jeanne Shaheen (D) the bill has a rare bipartisan support. If expanded, the sanctions would impact all pipeline laying activities as well as companies that provide […]
Why Greece is key to US plans to sell more natural gas to Europe (Al Jazeera)
“European market hangs in the balance as LNG champions take aim at Russian-Turkish energy alliance.” – by John Psaropoulos
U.S. Concedes Defeat on Gas Pipeline It Sees as Russian Threat (Bloomberg)
“The U.S. conceded it won’t be able to stop completion of the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, acknowledging the failure of a years-long effort to head of a perceived threat to European security.” – by Jennifer Jacobs, Nick Wadhams and Lars Paulsson
Congress, Nord Stream II, and Ukraine (The Brookings Institute)
“It will prove difficult for Congress to make Europe cut its dependence on Russian gas.” – by Steven Pifer
Nord Stream: A Roadmap for Secure and Safe Gas for Europe or a Continental Power Play? (Energy Industry Review)
“Depending on who you ask, Nord Stream 2 is either a sustainable way to ensure European energy security or a proxy for Russian hybrid warfare. Or both.” – by Evgenios Zogopoulos
U.S. Efforts To Derail Russian Pipelines To Europe Have Failed Since The 1960s (RFERL)
“The Trump administration and the U.S. Congress are fighting to block the 9.5 billion-euro ($10.6 billion) Nord Stream 2 project amid fears it will make NATO allies and other European countries more reliant on Russian energy and damage Ukraine by depriving it of transit fees.” – by Todd Prince