Germany and Austria warn US over expanded Russia sanctions
Source: Politico
Germany and Austria on Thursday hit back at proposed U.S. sanctions that would threaten European companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, accusing the U.S. of politicizing its economic interest in selling natural gas to Europe.
Europes energy supply is a matter for Europe, and not for the United States of America, Germanys Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Austrias Federal Chancellor Christian Kern said in a joint statement.
U.S. senators on Wednesday supported extending and expanding sanctions against Moscow.
The two politicians warned that it wouldnt only be highly regrettable, but also damaging to their countries cooperation on the Ukraine crisis if irrelevant considerations such as U.S. economic interest in exporting gas were to gain the upper hand. At the heart of their push-back is the planned expansion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
Read more: http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-and-austria-warn-u-s-over-expanded-russia-sanctions/
Doug the Dem
(1,297 posts)Leghorn21
(13,526 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,355 posts)---snip---
The Senate amendment, which passed overwhelmingly but which still needs to clear the House, would ramp up U.S.ability to hit back at Russia. Specifically, under the new legislation, the White House would have the authority to extend sanctions to any firm that invests money to help build Russian energy projects. That takes square aim at Nord Stream 2, a pipeline that would deliver natural gas from Russia directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.
...
Nord Stream has torn Europe apart already. Eastern and Central European countries oppose the project, fearing that their dependence on Russian energy would increase. Many Western European countries, especially Germany, back it, arguing that a new pipeline will increase supplies and lower energy prices in Europe. U.S. officials in the Obama and Trump administrations have opposed the pipeline, saying it could undermine European energy security.
If the legislation passes the House and survives any veto threats from President Donald Trump, it could be used against companies like Shell, Uniper, Wintershall, Engie, and OMV, which are teaming up with Gazprom, Russias state-owned energy behemoth, to build the $10.6 billion pipe.
At the same time, Gabriel and Kern allege the United States was acting in the interest of domestic suppliers, which in recent years have begun to export natural gas and even crude oil, including to Europe.
---snip---
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/15/germany-hits-back-at-possible-new-u-s-sanctions-on-russia/
---snip---
The bill is only a threat of sanctions against any company that makes a significant investment in Nord Stream II. This discretion to use that provision to fine companies involved is largely left with Trump, however.
Ukrainian gas giant Naftogaz has called Nord Stream II a political weapon.
"There is no need for Nord Stream II, but we have to show Europe that we can cooperate and co-manage a gas system with them ourselves," says Andriy Kobolyev, the CEO of Naftogaz. "If Gazprom is allowed to build that pipeline, it is obvious to me that it will eventually be used 100% by Russia, strangling Ukraine financially. If we lose a significant portion of our transit revenues for Russian gas into Europe, then it will be a huge blow to our country," he says.
The threat against Nord Stream II puts added risk and new stresses on European energy firms. Russia accounts for nearly a third of natural gas supply in Europe. Russia is the world's largest natural gas producer.
---snip---
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2017/06/15/what-the-russia-sanctions-upgrade-means-for-trump-and-ukraine/#62d1411c2783
Response to Calista241 (Original post)
Rainbow Droid This message was self-deleted by its author.
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)I think that is the point of this post, right?
MedusaX
(1,129 posts)Pipeline were deemed "optional" and identified the POTUS as the determining part of when/if those would be enacted...
So the Austria/Germany argument against the sanctions is not reflective of the actual/complete Sanction terms
Sounds like Putin influence to me..
but what do i know?
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)alienate our allies.
But the orange filth can't make that argument without inviting scorn in return.