Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US about to slap disobedient European firms with sanctions over Russian gas project
RT ^ | June 2018 | Jonathan Ernst

Posted on 06/11/2018 12:54:11 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

The White House is on the verge of introducing penalties against companies engaged in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will deliver Russian natural gas to the EU across the Baltic Sea.

Apart from Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom, the project is being undertaken by German energy firms Wintershall and Uniper, French multinational Engie, British-Dutch oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell, and Austrian energy company OMV.

Initially, Gazprom's European partners were planning to become stakeholders in the Nord Stream 2 AG, which is registered in Switzerland. However, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, Poland’s antitrust watchdog, blocked the proposed joint venture between Gazprom and the European firms in 2016.

The challenge was addressed through a financial arrangement. The European partners offered loans for the project instead of creating a joint venture to work in line with legislation and regulators. Gazprom received €2 billion ($2.3 billion) to build a fifth of the pipeline.

The Nord Stream 2 project covers the construction of two threads of a gas pipeline that will run from Russia to the coast of Germany via the Baltic Sea. The controversial pipeline, approved by Germany and Finland, is projected to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to European customers every year. It's expected to be put into operation in 2019.

The project was strongly opposed by some European states, including Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic countries. The US has also slammed the pipeline, claiming the project undermines energy security both in Europe and the US.

(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: estonia; europeanunion; finland; g7; gas; gazprom; germany; larrykudlow; latvia; lawrencekudlow; lithuania; mactroll; merkel; nordstream2; oil; poland; russia; syria; tariffs; ukraine

1 posted on 06/11/2018 12:54:11 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

The optics look bad for this. I means it’s one thing to demand nuke programs to end but its quite another telling a friend they can’t build a pipeline on their own property.

I hope Trump drops this notion very quickly.


2 posted on 06/11/2018 1:00:51 PM PDT by Fhios (Atlas shrugged, Sessions yawned.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fhios

I agree with you. This kind of rubs me the wrong way.


3 posted on 06/11/2018 1:06:57 PM PDT by BBQToadRibs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BBQToadRibs; Fhios

A lot of countries en route have a problem with it, but I doubt sanctions will happen. Trade war with E.U. is amping up in its stead. And new sanctions on Russia were announced today.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions/u-s-puts-more-sanctions-on-russians-over-hacking-idUSKBN1J71T5


4 posted on 06/11/2018 1:09:35 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Fhios

Reagan did not go this far when the Euros got that gas pipeline built but Reagan operated in an era when Americans were prepared to take the role of Atlas, supporting the globe on America’s broad shoulders, because of the Soviet threat. Today, at a time when the Cold War is long over, we are still shouldering the brunt of their trade restrictions *and* taking care of their defense. We need to rework our defense and commercial arrangements so that our allies aka military dependents no longer take advantage.


5 posted on 06/11/2018 1:14:12 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Journalism is about covering important stories. With a pillow, until they stop moving.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

Try to imagine the response in this thread if the article was instead about the EU sanctioning U.S. companies for such a thing. I doubt it’d go over well.


6 posted on 06/11/2018 1:17:22 PM PDT by Trump20162020
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Trump20162020

[Try to imagine the response in this thread if the article was instead about the EU sanctioning U.S. companies for such a thing. I doubt it’d go over well.]


The EU has fined Google, Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm and other US companies billions of dollars just for being the dominant players. Whereas these sanctions are national security-related. If they want to reside under the American defense umbrella, they can stop feeding Europe’s most likely adversary. I think the US should fine these companies $10b for operating the pipeline, just to claw back the amounts taken from US companies by the EU.


7 posted on 06/11/2018 1:24:04 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Journalism is about covering important stories. With a pillow, until they stop moving.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

I thought Trump worked for Putin.

That’s what intellectual heavyweights such as Samaritan Bee argue.


8 posted on 06/11/2018 1:55:06 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Mueller, Obama, Hillary and Holder each made millions selling US uranium to Putin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

“It’s expected to be put into operation in 2019.”

Basically done.


9 posted on 06/11/2018 2:01:19 PM PDT by dgbrown
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dgbrown

Yes...and Sweden has just signed off on NordStream 2...though, things can still change or be stopped midway. As recently as today some oil experts claim it’s still not a “done deal.”

https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/nordstream-2-not-done-deal


10 posted on 06/11/2018 2:05:45 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Fhios; BBQToadRibs

Expect to hear more stories like the following, as Russia is not known for respecting borders or borders in dispute. Every island “in question” is a potential Crimea. Today:

“Japan protests Russian undersea cables to disputed Kurill Islands territory.”

http://www.dw.com/en/kuril-islands-japan-protests-russian-undersea-cable-to-disputed-territory/a-4415555

Similar reasoning behind worries over pipeline.


11 posted on 06/11/2018 2:47:42 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Fhios

Friend? I’d say Poland is a greater friend of the USA than Germany will ever be!


12 posted on 06/11/2018 2:52:42 PM PDT by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

You can build a pipeline but you still have to sell the gas. What is missing here is information on contracts. The USA is already selling natural gas to Europe and has become the world’s largest producer. Several LNG terminals are ready to come on line. Competition, which Russia did not expect, is heating up.


13 posted on 06/11/2018 3:10:01 PM PDT by Bookshelf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei; All
If they want to reside under the American defense umbrella, they can stop feeding Europe’s most likely adversary. I think the US should fine these companies $10b for operating the pipeline, just to claw back the amounts taken from US companies by the EU.

The notion that Europe has to kowtow to the US on this pipeline is as absurd as the notion the American taxpayer has to subsidize European security.

After 75 years of hand holding the feckless Europeans its time to let go!

14 posted on 06/11/2018 3:34:38 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Oh, that big 1982 Siberian explosion?
Fort Worth Star-Telegram / The New York Times | 2/3/04 | William Safire
Posted on 02/03/2004 9:13:42 PM PST by Valin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1071087/posts


15 posted on 06/12/2018 12:08:24 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Mollypitcher1
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

16 posted on 06/12/2018 12:24:16 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: NoLibZone
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

17 posted on 06/12/2018 12:24:28 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

18 posted on 06/12/2018 12:24:31 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

19 posted on 06/12/2018 12:24:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson