The construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline caused a dispute with the United States.
Merkel and Biden have now reached an agreement - but the deal carries risks.
Berlin / Washington - For years there has been a serious dispute between Germany and one of its most important international partners, the USA. Trigger: The natural gas deal between Germany and Russia. More precisely, the pipeline laid under the Baltic Sea called Nord Stream 2. International, the deal has met with enormous criticism. Former gas transit countries such as Poland and Ukraine fear for revenue and their own gas supply - the European Union fears that the pipeline will increase dependency on a single supplier country and reduce the diversity of the European gas market.
But that's not all.
Several countries, above all the US, fear that Nord Stream 2 will allow Russia to use energy flows as a means of political pressure.
Under Trump even sanctions were imposed on companies involved in the construction, threatening letters and warnings were sent, the tone was harsh.
Relations with the new US President Joe Biden were also burdened by the German-Russian natural gas deal.
On her last visit to Washington, however, according to various media reports, Chancellor Angela Merkel was able to smooth things over by saying that a deal had been negotiated.
Merkel and Biden: Conditions for the completion of Nord Stream 2
Corresponding signals also came from Washington.
"We don't have any final details to announce yet, but I think I'll be able to say more soon," said US State Department spokesman Ned Price on Tuesday.
"The Germans have made useful suggestions," he said, referring to Merkel's visit to Biden.
They had come closer to the common goal of "preventing Russia from using energy flows as a weapon," said Price.
Merkel had admitted differences with President Biden during her visit to Washington.
However, both agreed that Ukraine must remain a transit country for Russian natural gas - even after Nord Stream 2 went into operation.
As
reported by
Spiegel
, which also cites the US media
Bloomberg
and
Wall Street Journal
, the agreement may be published this week.
It would probably allow Germany, subject to certain concessions, to complete the construction of the Baltic Sea pipeline undisturbed.
For years Merkel had vehemently resisted complying with the demands of his partner country USA and canceling the construction of Nord Stream 2.
Even the assumption of office Joe Biden did not change her attitude.
Biden, on the other hand, is under massive pressure from the US Congress.
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The pipes for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline are ready in the port of Mukran and will be loaded onto a ship.
© picture alliance / dpa |
Stefan Sauer
For Merkel it would be a great success, which would later crown the outgoing Chancellor's last official trip to the United States in July.
Biden, on the other hand, must expect to accept harsh criticism from Congress.
According to
Spiegel
, the
agreement provides for
three central concessions for Germany:
According to the written draft of the agreement, Germany undertakes to take action should Russia use the pipeline to put pressure on Ukraine.
How exactly these measures then look like, however, is open.
Germany will invest 175 million dollars to promote the expansion of green energies in Ukraine.
After all, Germany should help Ukraine continue to benefit from the billion-dollar transit fees for Russian gas - or be compensated for financial losses.
At the same time, however, the federal government is also slowing down: there is an exchange with the USA regarding Nord Stream 2, said a government spokesman when asked by the dpa.
Reactions to the deal for Nord Stream 2: It will be uncomfortable, especially for Biden
According to reports in the
Wall Street Journal
, the US government is still keeping
sanctions against the Russian energy sector open after the agreement with Germany. But Biden could still have serious problems justifying the agreement with the Federal Republic before the Senate. The Republicans in particular are storming the deal. According to
Spiegel
, Senator Ted Cruz announced after his scolding for Merkel's policy that he would block appointments to important top positions in response to Biden's Russia policy.
The Democrats are also critical of the deal, they consider Biden's Russia policy to be too compliant - an accusation that was voiced loudly, especially during Trump's term in office. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj is disappointed with the lack of resistance from the USA against Nord Stream 2. As
Der Spiegel
reports, Derek Chollet, one of the most important officials of the US State Department, is traveling to Ukraine and then to Poland to use Nord Stream 2 speak. According to a report by the
Tagesschau
,
Biden argued
that by the time he took office, the pipeline was already 95 percent complete, further sanctions would therefore make no sense and that he had decided to work with Germany as a result.
Nord Stream 2: Also an issue for Merkel's successor
The new federal government is likely to continue to occupy themselves with the topic.
While Armin Laschet (CDU) announced that she would continue Merkel's course and complete the construction of Nord Stream 2, Annalena Baerbock (Greens) spoke out against the Baltic Sea pipeline.
Either way, the agreement between Merkel and Biden is now creating facts - which Laschet or Baerbock will also have to adhere to after the general election.
(
fh
)
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