Sandra Oudkirk, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Diplomacy, has finally announced America’s opinions regarding the Nord Stream 2, and has officially threatened to issue sanctions against both Russia and Germany, were the project passed into creation. According to Oudkirk, the US is strictly against the building of a natural gas pipeline linking the European Union with Russia, as it would increase Europe’s dependence upon the Federation for gas supplies immensely.
This offshore gas pipeline is expected to be built from Vyborg in Russia, to Greifswald in Germany, successful linking the other countries of the EU, effectively being in control of all the gas flows in rival country Ukraine. Sandra Oudkirk has emphasized US concerns over the fact that this pipeline would leave Ukraine vulnerable to reduced gas transit revenue if Russia decides to divert the gas flows without any guarantees being enforced. Even though Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised that the project would not be passed unless Russia guaranteed Ukraine’s prosperity, America remains unconvinced. Oudkirk also highlighted American suspicion that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would allow Russia to install underwater surveillance devices in the Baltic Sea, successfully threatening half the world.
In place of passing the Nord Stream 2 project, Sandra has explained that America wanted Europe to improve on their technology so that they could eventually source gas from the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caspian Sea, Algeria, and even Australia and the US themselves, rather than depending on Russia.
In reference to the threat of sanctions, Sandra Oudkirk announced to reporters in Berlin that according to a legislation passed by the US Congress in 2017, America retains the right to act against any Russian intervention in Ukraine’s territory. Thus, the government has full authority to impose sanctions upon the Nord Stream 2 project the moment any threat to the EU is confirmed.