The US State Department has announced that it will impose sanctions on entities and vessels linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, saying it is a “technical” issue, but an expression of continued US opposition. to the project.
As stated in the announcement of the US State Department, sanctions have been introduced against the organizations, individuals and ships involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, which were previously restricted.
The new statement also mentions sanctions against the new owners of the ships. This list also includes Nord Stream 2 AG and the German head of this company, Matthias Warnig, who has close ties with Vladimir Putin.
North Stream 2 Gazprom
Patel: We continue our long standing opposition to Nord Stream 2
Asked about the rationale for reimposing sanctions on Wednesday, Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said it was a “technical” issue, but it also reflected America's continued opposition to Nord Stream 2.
– The reason is that we continue our long-standing opposition to “North Stream 2” as a geopolitical project of Russia and efforts to revive it. We will continue to work so that Russia can never weaponize its energy resources, Patel said.
Shortly after the Biden administration took office, the State Department suspended the implementation of some sanctions related to Nord Stream 2 imposed by Congress in 2021, citing concerns about the impact of the sanctions on relations with and confidence in Germany. justified that they do not interfere with the construction of the object.
However, in the end, full NS2 sanctions were announced by President Joe Biden on February 23, 2022, the day before Russia's massive aggression against Ukraine.
Main photo source: Gazprom
