The move was made in defiance of the US Congress, which in January decided that Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig had engaged in sanctionable activity and proposed punitive measures.
However, in a letter to Congress, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the decision was made “in the national interests of the United States”.
Speaking subsequently at the Arctic Council in Iceland, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Blinken added that: “Today’s actions demonstrate the administration’s commitment to energy security in Europe, consistent with the president’s pledge to rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe.”
Biden: Nord Stream 2 sanctions ‘counter-productive’ for European relations May 26, 2021, by Bojan Lepic
U.S. President Joe Biden has waived sanctions against the company behind the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline because the project is nearly complete and the chance it could harm ties with Europe.
Biden, who is preparing for his first visit to Europe and his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month, told reporters that he was against the pipeline since its inception, but held off on sanctions because it was ‘
almost completely finished’ by the time he took office.
When asked why he was letting Germany and Russia complete the project, Biden said: “
US waives sanctions on Nord Stream 2 vestnikkavkaza.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vestnikkavkaza.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The pipeline could be finished as early as this year
Credit: REUTERS
The Biden administration has waived sanctions on the company behind Russia s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany in a move that has angered critics in Washington.
A State Department report sent to Congress concluded that Nord Stream 2 AG and its chief executive, Matthias Warnig, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, engaged in sanctionable activity.
But Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, immediately waived those sanctions, saying that it was in the US national interest.
The decision came as the Biden administration seeks to rebuild ties with Germany, after relations deteriorated under former president Donald Trump.
Publishing date: May 19, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 3 minute read •
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WASHINGTON The Biden administration waived sanctions on the company behind Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany and its chief executive, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, a move decried by critics of the project in Congress.
A State Department report sent to Congress concluded that Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO, Matthias Warnig, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, engaged in sanctionable activity. But Blinken immediately waived those sanctions, saying that it was in the U.S. national interest.
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