Sanctions Over Nord Stream: US Ambassador Threatens German Companies Doing Business With Russia

A big financial and diplomatic scandal between Berlin and Washington is in full swing. A number of German companies taking part in the construction of Nord Stream 2 have received a "black mark", threatening sanctions. It was the US Ambassador to Germany who sent it.

A big financial and diplomatic scandal between Berlin and Washington is in full swing. A number of German companies taking part in the construction of Nord Stream 2 have received a "black mark", threatening sanctions. It was the US Ambassador to Germany who sent it. The surprised businessmen, who see the construction of the pipeline from Russia as a matter of business, applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the German Chancellery for clarification.

My colleague Mikhail Antonov on how Berlin responded.

 

Lubmin collects €1.5 million in tax annually only from the fact that the Nord Stream pipeline comes out at its part of the Baltic shore. The construction of Nord Stream 2 means that starting next year the community will collect €3 million. That's why the mayor of Lubmin didn't like how the US Ambassador tried to intimidate the project's participants.

Axel Vogt, burgomaster: "As for me, I don't agree with such methods. I don't think such letters from the US Ambassador to Germany and the US Government comply with generally accepted diplomatic practice".

Gazprom's European partners Wintershall, Uniper, OMV, Shell, and Engie received a letter of caution from US Ambassador Richard Grenell stating that all of them could fall under sanctions.

"As you are aware, the United States strongly opposes the Nord Stream 2. The pipeline poses serious geostrategic consequences to our European allies and partners".

Richard Grenell has been working as the US Ambassador to Germany since last May. He often travels back to the USA and publishes photos taken at gay parties and in the Oval Office. He tries to meet Trump's eye as often as possible. He also imitates his off-hand manners which are clearly visible in his relationship with Germany.

Volker Kauder, Bundestag Deputy: "Judging by the behavior of the president and the ambassador it may seem they have grounds for such statements, but it's merely the way they speak. We should accept it as a given".

It's not the first time Germany has seen blackmail from Grenell who is called a "mini-Trump". He had barely just gotten settled in before he started threatening German companies with sanctions for cooperation with Iran, which were resumed within the nuclear deal framework. Back then, he was compared to an officer of a colonial administration. A similar opinion is being expressed now as well about the threats concerning Nord Stream 2.

"The US Ambassador clearly thinks he is an emperor's governor-general to Germany from Washington".

"Is Mr. Grenell aware that the times of High Commissioners are over?"

The newspaper Handelsblatt wrote that the economic department of the German MFA has been voicing complaints about the fact Grenell is always contesting key positions of German policy-making. In this case, he's trying to push forward expensive liquefied gas to the European market instead of cheap pipeline gas. In terms of profit and power supply, Moscow and Berlin don't have any disagreements. Recently, the president of Russia has expressed a joint standpoint on the issue.

Vladimir Putin: “Europe needs the Nord Stream 2. The European countries' own resources, I mean Norway, the UK, and other countries, are growing thin. It's just a clinical fact, as they say. Given the scale at which Russia provides gas to Europe and the distances between the point of extraction and the point of consumption, Russia is the best choice as a provider for the European economy. We can compete with anyone. We hope the competition will be fair within the current legal framework".

But instead, Washington is dictating foul play on Germany. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shown an utmost irritation with this by describing Grenell's action as a provocation. Russian diplomats express a similar position.

Maria Zakharova, Russian MFA: "It's part of a long-term program of global deterrence of our country which has been implemented historically. Also, there's a short-term program. It's indeed unacceptable. It's no part of an ambassador's duties, to say the least. If truth be told, it contradicts them".

Meanwhile, a third of the 745 miles of Nord Stream 2 has been laid. Taking into account Nord Stream 1, after the project is launched, it will be possible to pump 110 billion cubic meters of gas annually through the Baltic gas line. The ships Pioneering Spirit and Solitaire are moving toward each other at a speed of 1.8 miles, or 500 pipes welder per day. The American Ambassador writes, but the caravans move on. The further Nord Stream 2 moves, the more there will be threats and blackmail around it. It's clear as day.

In response to a request from European consortium members on how to respond to letters from Grenell, the German Foreign Ministry issued a recommendation... To work calmly and under no circumstances write him back.

Mikhail Antonov, Alexander Korostelev, Andrey Putra, Vesti, Greifswald, Lubmin, Germany.