Following the anticipated introduction of US sanctions against Russia for alleged violation of the INF Treaty, The State Department has announced new restrictions, this time due to the implementation of the project “Northern Stream 2”. Deputy director of the US Department of State Department of Energy Sandra Oudkirk in a speech in Berlin said, Washington is going to prevent the realization of the project, writes Spiegel.
Oudkirk reminded, sanctions in accordance with the law may be introduced in the draft “On Countering American opponents through sanctions” (CAATSA), adopted in August 2017 , in response to the RF part in the conflict in Ukraine and Moscow's alleged interference in US elections 2016 of the year.
We would be happy, if the project did not take place - Bloomberg leads her words
Oudkirk also said US concerns about, that Russia will install on the pipeline route “Nord stream – 2” in underwater intelligence equipment Baltic Sea. According to her,, Moscow can be placed along the new pipeline, which will connect Russia and Germany, some listening devices.
she noted, The project is raising concerns about security in the region and the United States oppose the project, because it will increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas supplies
At the same time representative of the State Department rejected the suggestion that, US so they want to keep Europe as a potential market for the supply of American liquefied natural gas.
As alternatives “Nord stream – 2” Europeans, According Oudkirk, may be the supply of gas through the Caspian Sea, Eastern Mediterranean and Algeria, and yes, suppliers may be the same as the United States or even Australia.
