All Biden has to do is allow these 100 miles of pipe to be laid and allow gas to flow and Putin will pull back.

Washington — According to people with deliberative knowledge, the Biden administration will bring Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea under new pressure after the construction of the $ 11 billion project resumed this month. We are reviewing US policy on designed pipelines.

The undersea pipeline, Nord Stream 2, is over 90% complete, with about 100 miles remaining. Construction resumed in earnest on February 6, more than a year after construction stopped, in the face of opposition from the Trump administration and Congressional action to approve sanctions on companies and individuals involved in the project. It was. The Biden administration has so far not imposed the sanctions required by law.

Biden administration has started talks with Berlin The future of the pipeline German officials said it included “a threat of sanctions on companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2.”

The administration on Tuesday is facing a deadline to report a list of companies that it considers to be in breach of US law aimed at shutting down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. These companies will be potential targets for US sanctions. The Biden administration could also abandon sanctions under national interest clauses, crush Germany, a key European ally, bring geopolitical victories to Russia, and cross bipartisan coalitions in parliament.

“When Russia’s infrastructure arrives in NATO, all NATO members are at risk,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) and Jim Riche (Republican), one of the key authors of the sanctions law. , Aidaho) writes. Top Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the White House on Friday. “US-German relations are the cornerstone of the transatlantic alliance, but allowing Nord Stream II to complete is not a constructive step forward in this partnership.”

In Nord Stream 2

Russia’s gas export monopoly has largely abandoned Ukraine’s transportation system, which has handled most of Russia’s gas supply to Europe for decades. U.S. lawmakers say Nord Stream 2 strengthens Russia’s grip on the European energy market, undermining the geopolitical influence Ukraine may still have in its fight against Russia, to the continent of Moscow I am concerned about increasing the influence of the United States.

The Biden administration is eager to improve relations with Berlin, which was tense due to President Trump’s skepticism about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance, threats to tariffs on German products, and criticism of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. .. Mr. Trump’s “America First” Foreign Policy..

Mr. Trump openly opposed the pipeline at some point Encourage Berlin to stop construction In return for avoiding a trade war between Berlin and Russian officials in the United States, Nord Stream 2 is characterized as the only commercial venture to promote energy security in Europe.

Mr. Biden has not clarified the policy regarding the pipeline. “The president continues to believe that Nord Stream 2 is a bad deal for Europe,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said last month.

But that was before the pipeline construction resumed. When the administration did not respond by applying compulsory sanctions, it cast doubt on its policy. Ned Price, a key State Department spokesman, refused to announce a formal policy at a briefing on Friday.

“Our position at NordStream 2 is very clear and hasn’t changed,” he said.

Officials of the White House National Security Council met to discuss the pipeline, including Germany’s willingness to put a moratorium on the project, according to people with controversial knowledge. A spokeswoman for the National Security Council declined to comment.

Another State Department spokesman said the government was aware of the resumption of work at Nord Stream 2 and “monitored activities to complete or certify the pipeline, and if such activities took place. Make a decision on the applicability of sanctions. “

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has requested a confidential White House briefing on the pipeline, according to a Senate aide who is familiar with the request.

“We are convinced of that [the pipeline] Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Russia’s national television on Sunday.

A spokesman for Nord Stream 2 AG, a Swiss-registered Russian-owned company building the pipeline, said: [European Union] The Nord Stream 2 project violates international law and violates Europe’s energy sovereignty. “

On January 19, the final day of the Trump administration chose Less oil money over war, the Treasury approved Fortuna, a Russian-owned barge that is currently laying Nord Stream 2 pipes on the Baltic Sea floor. Will Biden Listen to the cry’s of Americans and citizens all over the world being put at risk from this war.