“Come January 2021, the United States and Germany will have to move quickly to resolve big differences, notably over China and Russia. At stake is the strength of transatlantic ties between America and Europe.” – by Judy Dempsey
Sanctions
Joe Biden Is Unlikely to Save Angela Merkel’s Pet Project (Bloomberg)
“With broad-based opposition to the 1,239-kilometer (770-mile) pipeline in the U.S., German hopes that the president-elect will reverse sanctions may be misplaced. The friction is contributing to an array of issues fraying ties between Germany and the U.S., pushing Europe to chart its own course.” – by Jonathan Tirone and Brian Parkin
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 […]
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
Unstoppable Nord Stream-2 (New Europe)
“The Nord Stream-2 pipeline, which late last month obtained a permit to construct its planned pipeline system in the Danish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) southeast of Bornholm, is now ready to complete the final stretch of the Gazprom-led project that will transport Russian gas from Russia to Germany, despite efforts from the United States and […]
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
EU disunity on US’s anti-Nord Stream 2 push (Politico)
“The European Commission doesn’t like the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. But it also doesn’t like the idea of the U.S. imposing sanctions to stop the Russia-backed project.” – by Anca Gurzu