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 note 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 project's risks to European energy security, along with the damage and risk of sanctions associated with the project.
Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture between the Russian energy giant Gazprom and five European companies. The US has long strongly opposed this project. Russian President Vladimir Putin once declared that his counterpart Donald Trump is pursuing the interests of American businesses in supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe.