US drops sanctions on company behind Nord Stream 2

The United States refrains from imposing sanctions on the company behind Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline connecting Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Washington is fiercely against the project, but Secretary of State Blinken says the sanctions are not in the best interests of the United States. He stresses the importance of good relations with Germany and other European countries.

The multibillion-dollar project, slated for completion this year, has been a thorn in the United States for years. Washington thinks that Germany and the EU are too dependent on Russia for this; the project would play too much the geopolitical game of President Putin.

Germany, which sees it primarily as an economic project, has already responded to reports that the United States is abandoning it. Foreign Minister Maas spoke of a “constructive step, which we would like to discuss with our partners in Washington”.

The US State Department has imposed sanctions on four Russian ships, including the Akademik Cherskiy, which began laying parts of the pipeline in Danish waters last month.

Republicans in the US Congress, in particular, find the measures far too timid and demand a firmer stance. Senator Jim Risch speaks of a “gift to Putin that will only weaken the American position in the prospect of a summit between Presidents Biden and Putin. But Democrats also believe that the United States cannot remain the arms crossed and see the project come to an end “. the option that we must avoid rounding off should be exploited, ”said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.