The Russian pipelaying vessel Akademik Cherskiy is moored in the Baltic Sea port of Mukran in northeastern Germany on Sept. 7, 2020, waiting to continue work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. (Odd ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
The Biden administration’s report on Nord Stream 2, which makes no mention of new sanctions against Russia, has raised objections from several members of Congress. They argue that the project is a “gift” to the Kremlin, with devastating effects on U.S. national security and the energy security of European allies.
“The Nord Stream 2 project is a gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea connecting Germany and Russia, which would allow Russia to more easily supply gas to European countries. But the U.S. has long opposed the project, arguing that Russia could use the cutoff to pressure European countries and strengthen Russia’s geopolitical influence.
The State Department released a report on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on Feb. 19, which did not mention new sanctions against Russia or Germany and other European entities involved in the pipeline’s construction.
Commenting on the report, Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, “It’s shocking that the Biden Administration began by handing over a victory that Putin has been seeking for more than a decade.”
“There is no clear legal basis for this report,” Cruz said in a Feb. 20 statement, “and the sanctions mandated by Congress are not just for vessels installing the pipeline for Nord Stream 2, but for vessels engaged in related pipelaying activities, companies that provide insurance for the vessels, and companies that provide construction verification services.”
“According to publicly available information, Russian President Vladimir Putin has successfully resumed the project, which is now less than a few months away from completion,” Cruz added, “and the Biden administration is signaling a willingness to allow this pipeline to be completed, which would have disastrous effects. “
State Department spokesman Ned Price reiterated the U.S. position against the construction of Nord Stream 2 on Feb. 19. But he said the Biden administration is reluctant to impose sanctions if countries ignore the U.S. grievances.
“If you really want to put pressure on Putin, you should sanction any entity that is involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. It’s Time to take action, not just talk about it.” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-UT) tweeted on Feb. 9.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in January that Biden believes the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a “bad deal for Europe” and that they will review restrictions on the project.
In its report, the Biden administration identified a Russian vessel and a company that are helping to build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. But those entities have been sanctioned by the Trump administration.
“Simply put, today’s list of sanctions is completely inadequate,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement, “and allowing this pipeline to be completed would be for Russian President Vladimir Putin is nothing short of a victory.”
The pipeline is more than 90 percent complete, and Russian state company Gazprom and its Western partners hope to finish it this year. Much of the remaining work is difficult and in deep water near Denmark.
The first two U.S. presidents, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Barack Obama, have opposed the project because it would bypass Ukraine, through which Russia has been sending gas to Europe for decades. This could deprive Ukraine of lucrative transit fees and potentially make it impossible to counter Russian aggression.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Okla.), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that he was “deeply troubled and disappointed” by the Biden State Department report and noted bipartisan progress in opposing the pipeline.
Congress has passed multiple bipartisan laws on the project and has specifically expanded mandatory sanctions to include the type of pipeline laying activities currently underway,” Risch said. The administration is ignoring these decisions and needs to provide an immediate explanation.”
“Democrats have widely criticized the previous administration on Russia, but the previous administration imposed severe sanctions for Russia’s malign influence, including the aggression against Ukraine, the Skripal attack in London, and the Nord Stream 2 incident.” He said.
“And this report is a gift to the Russians, and their ongoing efforts to undermine Europe’s energy security, destabilize Ukraine, promote corruption, and attempt malicious influence on all of Europe.”
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