Nord Stream 2: Richard Grenell rejects criticism of US sanctions

The federal government had criticized the US interference because the new US sanctions would threaten the completion of Nord Stream 2. Richard Grenell, US Ambassador to Germany, responded to this: "15 European countries, the European Commission and the European Parliament have all raised their concerns about the project," he told "Bild am Sonntag".

Grenell therefore sees the measures as "a very pro-European decision". It is also a long-standing US policy "that goes back to the Obama administration." The aim is to "diversify European energy sources" so that "no country or source can have too strong an impact on Europe through energy," Grenell told the newspaper. In the meantime, many European diplomats have thanked him for the sanctions imposed by the American government.

The controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline project has encountered further difficulties over the past few kilometers. This is due to the sanctions that the USA is threatening companies that are involved in the construction of the gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea. Specifically, the sanctions target the operating companies of the highly specialized ships with which the pipes for the pipeline are laid through the Baltic Sea.

At an air force base, US President Donald Trump signed and enacted a sanctions law as part of a defense budget package on Friday evening. The U.S. government now has 60 days to compile a list of the names of the companies and individuals affected.

Germany had "regrettably taken note of the sanctions". "The Federal Government rejects such extraterritorial sanctions," said Deputy Government Spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer. "They meet German and European companies and represent an interference in our internal affairs."

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Nord Stream 2 is the second Baltic Sea pipeline between Russia and Germany. Behind it is the Russian state-owned company Gazprom, which is to finance half of the planned total costs of EUR 9.5 billion. The other half are financed by five European energy companies, including Wintershall-Dea, OMV, Royal Dutch Shell and the French company Engie.