US senators move to turn off the taps on Nordstream
Legislation which, if passed, would target those involved in Russia’s Nord Stream II pipeline project is a step closer to becoming law in the US. This follows an agreement between the US Senate and the House Armed Services Committees that the National Defense Authorization Act (‘NDAA’) for Fiscal Year 2020 should include a bipartisan bill, the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act 2019.
The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, would ‘require reports by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence relating to construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and for other purposes.’
The Nord Stream II project website describes its rationale as being to ‘transport natural gas into the European Union to enhance security of supply, support climate goals and strengthen the internal energy market.’
It adds that EU domestic gas production is ‘in rapid decline’ and that Nord Stream 2 will meet demand by transporting gas from the ‘world’s largest reserves in Russia to the EU internal market’.
Shaheen commented: ‘The Nord Stream 2 project is another means by which Russia can spread its malign influence by exploiting Europe’s energy dependence – a tactic that the Kremlin has a history of deploying. Many European leaders have voiced their concerns loud and clear regarding this pipeline and the threat it poses to Europe’s independence. This narrowly tailored bill is the Senate’s response to those with legitimate concerns in Europe, including many in Germany, who have been ignored. I believe that this bill will help preserve our collective efforts within the transatlantic alliance to counter Russian aggression.’
Photo: © Nord Stream 2 / Axel Schmidt
