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According to officials, Amake Hochstein, who was a special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs during President Barack Obama’s tenure, and was a close adviser to then-US Vice President and current President J. Biden, was offered unofficially by the National Security Advisor Jake Sulivan. at the end of March and trustee. His suitability for the position is currently being checked, but Mr Hochstein himself has not yet given his consent.
Hochstein retired from the supervisory board of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz at the end of last year. He declined to comment on the current situation.
The possible appointment of an envoy indicates a new strategic approach for the administration. Previously, the White House instructed experts from the National Security Council and the State Department for European Affairs to take diplomatic action on the project. As officials explained to Politico, there is now a perception in the White House that more attention needs to be paid to the difficult geopolitical nuances surrounding Nord Stream 2, especially given that construction is nearing completion, with nearly 96% completed. . pipeline.
The desire to appoint a messenger also demonstrates acceptance of pressure from the Capitol. Senators from both parties are calling on the Biden administration to effectively avoid the pipeline before it is too late. Senator Ted Cruz quickly approved the candidates for the State Department, and other senators publicly called on the administration to expedite the adoption of a sanctions package for companies involved in the implementation of the gas pipeline project, as required by law. .
In a recent private meeting, Cruz Victor Nuland, whom Biden selected to head the State Department’s Office of Political Affairs, lobbied on the possibility of appointing an envoy to deal with the pipeline, according to two people familiar with the interview. The senator’s office declined to comment.
Cruz’s efforts, though not entirely direct, are paying off. Last month, a Republican representing the state of Texas finally agreed to the appointment of William Burns as head of the Central Intelligence Agency after Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly pledged to prevent the pipeline.
„[Valstybės] “The department has repeatedly warned that any organization involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project risks US sanctions and must abandon the project immediately,” Blinken said.
However, a US official familiar with the matter claimed that the administration was already beginning to delay matters. Last month, the Justice Department legally approved at least two sanction packages against Nord Stream 2 AG, the company responsible for planning, building and maintaining the pipeline, and the company’s chief executive, Matthias Warnig, the official said. However, the sanction packages are not yet being implemented and it will be seen if the administration will add Nord Stream 2 AG and Mr. Warnig to the list of sanctioned entities. This list should be sent to Congress in May.
Some officials, however, view the appointment of an envoy as suspicious and think that such a move could have the opposite effect as desired. This could further delay sanctions on Nord Stream 2, allowing Germany and Russia to understand that the United States would not oppose a certain level of reconciliation. But a Democratic Senate aide said Hochstein’s appointment would be “blessed” by Democrats.
“Amos is a great choice for this position,” the aide said, emphasizing that he had “a good reputation” and had worked in a similar field in the Obama administration.
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