Tillerson: We’re against Nord Stream 2

The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipe between Russia and Germany as a threat to Europe’s energy security. “Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We see it as undermining Europe’s overall energy security and stability. Our opposition is driven by our mutual strategic interests, ” he said during his visit to Poland. “We are counting on US support in this matter,” said Minister of Investment and Development Jerzy Kwieciński. “This is not just another gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, it is an attempt to increase Europe’s gas dependence on Russian gas, but also an attempt to monopolize the direction of gas supplies through Germany. This is dangerous for many countries,” Kwieciński added. The proposed gas link would connect Russia and Germany through Baltic, circumventing Ukraine, which many sees as the next step of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has caused the EU to put sanctions against Russia. Some EU diplomats hope that by giving the Commission mandate to negotiate, the project would be delayed, depriving Russia of the leverage in talks with Kiev regarding transit fees. The current deal expires in 2019. The majority of Russian gas sent to the EU goes through Ukraine. A number of countries which opposes the pipeline is reaching 10, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP) sources, with additional countries wanting to send the bill for further revisions. Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands are the strongest proponents of Nordic Stream 2.