Washington's Deal With Germany On Nord Stream 2 Undermines Bipartisanship In US - Senator
Muhammad Irfan Published July 21, 2021 | 05:20 PM
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st July, 2021) The Biden Administration's decision not to oppose the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany undermines the bipartisanship in the United States, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch said.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Tuesday that the US and German officials had reached an agreement that would allow for the project completion and were expected to announce the deal on Wednesday.
"Not a single member of Congress supports the completion of this pipeline and the administration's willingness to look the other way and let Russia and Germany complete this pipeline undermines the bipartisanship necessary on this important security issue," Risch said in a statement.
The Republican noted that there were still mandatory sanctions that the administration had not yet imposed on the pipeline and that it had not agreed with Congress to lift any.
"This proposed 'agreement,' to allow the completion of Nord Stream 2 between the United States and Germany is full of promises and assurances, but offers little in the way of meaningful measures to address the key national security threats Nord Stream 2 poses to U.S.
allies and interests," Risch added.
The Senator further pointed to the fact that the United States and Germany excluded the participation and consent of Ukraine and Poland during the negotiations.
"The United States and Germany should not determine the energy security of another country without their deep and substantive input," Risch said.
Washington has stood in opposition to the Nord Stream 2 project since its beginning in 2012, but the decision to allow for its completion comes as the Biden Administration turns its focus toward establishing closer ties with European partners such as Berlin.
The Russia-led project, which is nearly complete, aims at transporting natural gas from Russia directly to Germany. Washington has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on companies and officials engaged in the project. Berlin, however, continues to support the pipeline's construction and has condemned Washington's attempts to disrupt it.
The two sides have agreed that the US and the EU should ensure that the pipeline is not used to pressure Ukraine and that Kiev continues to have access to gas transit. Russia has consistently maintained that the project is purely economic and urged others to stop politicizing the issue.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
UHS declares MBBS first prof, MS urology exam results
Separate coaches to be hired for ODIs, Test and T20I formats
Finance Minister calls for reforming tax system to improve country's economy
PM calls for joint efforts to check smuggling, power theft
Infinix Unveils a Vibrant New Chapter with Wahaj Ali: The face of Infinix NOTE 4 ..
PM makes two more appointments in his team
Terrorists of Shangla suicide attack will be brought to justice: Interior Minist ..
Applications Open for 6th Cycle of Start-up Incubation under the National Expans ..
Join vivo's "Light it Up" Social Media Contest in Ramadan to Win vivo V30 5G
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 March 2024
More Stories From World
-
Israeli air strikes kill 42 in North Syria
45 seconds ago -
Russia says UN sanctions on N.Korea have 'not helped' improve regional security
11 minutes ago -
Russia faces backlash as veto ends UN's N. Korea sanctions monitoring
31 minutes ago -
5.6-magnitude quake hits 126 km NNW of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea -- USGS
51 minutes ago -
German collector turns back time as clocks go forward
51 minutes ago -
Over 70 kg of raw opium seized in central Myanmar
1 hour ago
-
45 injured in train-bus crash in NW Cambodia: police
1 hour ago -
Romania finds possible drone fragments near Ukraine border
1 hour ago -
Japan dietary supplement maker probes five deaths
1 hour ago -
UNGA's revitalization key to promoting world peace, security: Pakistan
2 hours ago -
Sound of the Underground: the busker aiming to play every London Tube stop
2 hours ago -
Israeli strikes kill 42 in Syria's Aleppo province
3 hours ago