The United States and Poland on January 27 took a common stand against a planned gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany, saying it is politicizing energy and undermining attempts to make Europe less dependent on Russian resources.The last time we linked to Radio Free Europe someone sent over a Public Service Announcement from 1971 with the note: "The Cold War is Over".
The pipeline, known as Nord Stream 2, would bypass Poland and leave Central Europe vulnerable to Russian pressure.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, speaking in Warsaw after talks with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said the pipeline was "not a healthy piece of infrastructure" for Europe's energy stability.
"Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline," Tillerson said at a news conference with Czaputowicz. "We see it as undermining Europe's overall energy security and stability and providing Russia yet another tool to politicize energy as a political tool."
The pipeline would be the second to carry Russian gas directly to Germany and Western Europe via the Baltic Sea instead of through Poland and Ukraine.
Poland is wary of Russian intentions with the pipeline and "we share the view that it is necessary to diversify energy supplies into Europe," Czaputowicz said.
Poland began importing liquid natural gas from the United States last year. Tillerson encouraged further such sales and spoke in favor of a pipeline that would run from Poland to Norway....MORE
Here's Reuters with more:
U.S. says planned Russian pipeline would threaten European energy security
Previously on Nord Stream 2:
Jan 23
The Nord Stream 2 Natural Gas Pipeline Is A Game Changer For Gazprom
We had planned to link to a Euractiv post on the new pipe when Oilprice came up with one.
So now you get both.
First though some orientation:
August 2016
New Russian Pipeline In Baltic Sea Could 'Collapse' Ukraine
May 2014
EIA Natural Gas Weekly Update: Russian Exports to Western Europe
April 2012
Putin, Russian Oligarchs Rattled By Rising Importance of EU Shale Gas
See also:
"Berlin, Moscow Negotiate New Trade Accord".
-Reading Eagle
Feb. 12, 1940
Plus maybe a hundred posts on Gazprom and a thousand on natural gas. Use the 'Search Blog' box if interested.