Politics
16:29, 08-Jul-2017
US sanctions on Russia expected to affect Europe
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The US has ramped up sanctions on Russia, targeting various areas of its economy, but not all of Europe is happy, reported CGTN's Guy Henderson.
The US may not be satisfied, but pipes are stacking up in a remote storage yard on the north German coast. Preparations for a controversial plan to send gas from Russia directly to Germany are well underway.
Since last October, two trains have been arriving at the site, carrying the German-made steel pipes for the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2.
Analysts said the gas deal is highly politicized.
US President Donald Trump might want better relations with Moscow, but he also wants Europe to buy American gas, they said, calling it a policy of “energy dominance”.
“We would like to see diversification so that Europe is not wholly reliant on hydrocarbon supply from Russia, we want to see developments in the North Sea and southern corridors as well,” said Joshua Bradley of the US State Department.
Many of German’s allies agreed with the proposal, but Berlin is furious, warning the US to back off.
Officially, Nord Stream 2’s future remains in the hands of its Russian owners, and European investors, but Trump might become a powerful ally for those looking to stop them.