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In the opinion of the Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig, the federal government should commit to the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The SPD politician said that threats of US sanctions should be rejected.
Regardless of the debate over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny, the fundamental question must be answered “whether Germany can allow the United States to threaten companies and jobs in Germany for economic interests.” This is what Schwesig said after a visit to the port of Mukran in Rügen, which is a major transshipment point for pipeline construction and is also exposed to direct threats of sanctions.
The answer could only be that this is not right. An economic war must not be allowed, Schwesig warned. According to Schwesig, the United States is only interested in exporting its fracking gas. But that is the worst alternative economically and ecologically for Germany and Europe. Germany needs Russian natural gas to ensure energy supply even after the phase-out of nuclear and coal power.
“Unfortunately under constant pressure for a few weeks”
Massive threats of sanctions by the US against those involved in the project paralyzed the construction of the gas pipeline shortly before its completion at the end of 2019. Now the Russian secular vessels, which are currently still in the ports of Mecklenburg- West Pomeranian, they will resume their work.
Mukran “has unfortunately been under constant pressure from American politicians for several weeks,” Schwesig said. According to her, “the port of Mukran should not become a plaything for world political interests.” “We will oppose this with all our might.”
The three US senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Ron Johnson had blatantly threatened Fährhafen Sassnitz GmbH with sanctions in early August if the company continued to support the construction of the Baltic Sea pipeline. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD), among others, firmly rejected the pressure from the United States. The US government maintains that Europe is becoming dependent on Russia for energy.
Since the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, tensions between Berlin and Moscow have risen significantly. Navalny has been being treated in a Berlin hospital since August 22. Since then the possibility of stopping construction work on Nord Stream 2 has also been discussed.
Söder: Don’t make decisions madly
CSU chief Markus Söder is against a hasty construction stop, regardless of resentments between Germany and Russia. “I would not take a hasty decision now,” said the Bavarian prime minister of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”. Russia’s responses in the Navalny case are still pending. “And the best is a common European response.”
“We have to watch everything and always check how the balance between values and interests works for Germany,” Söder told the newspaper. “Of course this is a serious incident, which is unfortunately not an isolated incident.” Therefore, it needs “substantial answers” from Moscow. “Then we should think carefully about how the European reaction and ourselves will be.”
Neither threats nor bypassing has changed much in Russian politics so far. “Of course you can suspend Nord Stream 2, but if you really want to make a difference, wouldn’t you have to honestly cancel all gas contracts with Russia?” He said, referring to the possible consequences for energy supply and prices of energy. “I understand those who want to cancel the project. It was a controversial project from the beginning. But we need to know what the consequences would be.” All of this must be weighed wisely, as Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) does.
“In fact, it shouldn’t be about one thing or another, not about values or interests, money or morals,” Söder said. Balance is important. “Of course, we can decide not to build Nord Stream 2, cut Nord Stream 1 and give up gas from Russia. That would have an effect,” Söder said. “But do we want that? We should at least think about it very carefully.” The Bavarian Prime Minister stressed that it is not immoral to also think about employment and social livelihoods in one’s own country. “So: absolutely clear stance, but then you have to put up with more than the incumbent one day.”
Nord Stream 2 is supposed to transport gas from Russia to Germany and is particularly controversial in Eastern Europe. Above all, it is feared that alternative pipelines and traditional transit countries like Ukraine will weaken.
