File photo shows underway work on the Russo-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
German officials strongly condemned the US latest threat of sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, saying it harms the bilateral relations between Germany and the United States.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, stretching 1,230 kilometers (764 miles) from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, involves the construction of two pipelines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year from the Russian coast to Germany, which is scheduled to start operation in the middle of 2020.
By December 2019, 90 percent of the pipeline was completed. However, it was stalled at the same month as the United States announced to sanction the constructors of the project.
The US House of Representatives passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on July 21 that would impose new sanctions on companies involving in the construction of the gas pipelines.
Alexander Kulitz, a member of the Bundestag, said that the US claimed the Nord Stream 2 would seriously affect national security and make Germany and Europe overly dependent on Russian gas is totally wrong. In fact, Europes energy sources are more diverse than ever.
"This is clearly defined by the US government, by the US administration that they want us to be more independent. On the other hand, the minute we are independent in a way that does not comply with American ideas such as the energy factor, the energy issue when it comes to Nord Stream 2, they do not appreciate Europe being more independent, they actually sanction us with secondary sanctions. So this is very ambivalent," he said.
Klaus Ernst, chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy of Bundestag, said that the US sanctions violate the European legal system, international law and the sovereignty of Germany and Europe.
"I think US President Donald Trumps actions during his tenure have seriously damaged the relationship between Germany and the United States and I believe a lot of European people are confused about how to build a relationship with the United States," he said.
(Source: Reuters)
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