July 20, 2019 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny addresses
demonstrators during a rally to support opposition and independent
candidates after authorities refused to register them for September
elections to the Moscow City Duma, Moscow. Maxim ZMEYEV /
AFP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not rule out
consequences for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project if Russia
fails to thoroughly investigate opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s
poisoning, her spokesman said Monday.
Asked whether Merkel would protect the multi-billion-euro
pipeline from Russia to Europe if Germany were to seek sanctions
over the Navalny case, spokesman Steffen Seibert said: “The
chancellor believes it would be wrong to rule anything out from the
start.”
Nord Stream 2, a 10-billion-euro ($11-billion) pipeline near
completion beneath the Baltic Sea, is set to double Russian
natural-gas shipments to Germany, Europe’s largest economy.
It has long been in the crosshairs of the United States, which
has criticised European countries for their reliance on energy from
Russia.
US President Donald Trump has signed legislation that targets
contractors working on the project, meaning that German companies
face sanctions for even small investments.
“Sure,” said Trump when asked at a White House news conference
Monday whether he thought Germany should cancel the project.
“I’ve been supportive of that. I was the first one that brought
it up.”
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But he did not know if Germany was in a position to do so right
now, he added, “because Germany is in a very weakened position
energy-wise”.
Vladimir Putin (R), talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C)
and US President Donald Trump as they attend a ceremony at the Arc
de Triomphe in Paris on November 11, 2018 as part of commemorations
marking the 100th anniversary of the 11 November 1918 armistice,
ending World War I. ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP
Even within the European Union, there are voices against the
pipeline.
Poland and other former Eastern Bloc states are wary of the EU
becoming too reliant on Moscow, while non-EU member Ukraine fears
that the new pipeline would cut it out of the gas supply business
and allow Moscow to ratchet up pressure.
Despite its political differences with Russia, Germany thinks
Nord Stream 2 will ensure a more stable and cleaner source of
energy as it pivots away from coal and nuclear power.
As well as Russian giant Gazprom, which has a majority stake,
the international consortium involved in the Nord Stream 2 project
includes huge European players like Germany’s Wintershall and
Uniper groups, the Dutch-British Shell, France’s Engie and
Austria’s OMV.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/08/merkel-not-ruling-out-nord-stream-fallout-over-navalny/