US threatens sanctions on German companies supporting Nord Stream 2
(Baonghean.vn) - Bild newspaper reported on January 13 that US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell sent a test letter to a series of German companies, hinting at the possibility of Washington imposing sanctions on companies supporting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
The letter reads: "As you know, the United States strongly opposes Nord Stream 2... This gas pipeline has serious geopolitical consequences for European allies and partners. Our concerns are widely shared.
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| US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell. Photo: Getty |
Eastern European member states of the European Union (EU), along with many Western European governments and Canada, oppose the project. These partners share deep concerns about Russia's increasingly aggressive behavior, especially Moscow's use of energy resources as political and economic leverage.
Mr. Grenell called on companies to consider the risks of this project to European energy security, along with the damage and risk of sanctions related to this project.
Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture between Russian energy giant Gazprom and five European companies. The US has long been strongly opposed to the project. Russian President Vladimir Putin once stated that his counterpart Donald Trump was pursuing the interests of US businesses in supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe.
