Russia gas export pipeline in jeopardy as Trump signs sanctions bill

[rooster59]

Russia gas export pipeline in jeopardy as Trump signs sanctions bill

By Timothy Gardner

 

FILE PHOTO: Allseas' deep sea pipe laying ship Solitaire lays pipes for Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea September 13, 2019. REUTERS/Stine Jacobsen/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Swiss-Dutch company Allseas said it had suspended work on building a major Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline in order to avoid U.S. sanctions contained in legislation signed by President Donald Trump on Friday.

 

The move throws into doubt the completion date of the $11 billion project that Moscow had said would be ready in months, jeopardizing plans to quickly expand Russian sales of natural gas to Europe via pipeline.

 

The participation of privately-held Allseas, a specialist in subsea construction and laying underwater pipeline, is integral to the completion of Nord Stream 2, led by Russia's state energy company Gazprom.

 

"In anticipation of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Allseas has suspended its Nord Stream 2 pipelay activities," the company said in a statement dated Dec. 21, seen by Reuters shortly before Trump signed the bill.

 

"Allseas will proceed, consistent with the legislation's wind down provision and expect guidance comprising of the necessary regulatory, technical and environmental clarifications from the relevant US authority."

 

The annual national defense policy bill contains legislation, first sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, imposing sanctions on companies laying pipe for the project that will double the pipeline's capacity to Germany.

 

The bill calls on the administration to identify companies working on the project within 60 days to trigger the sanctions. That report will likely be completed faster than that, however, meaning the sanctions could be triggered earlier than expected, two U.S. senior officials told Reuters.

 

Nord Stream 2 would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine and Poland to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany.

 

Gazprom is taking on half of the project's planned costs and the rest is divided between five European energy companies: Austria's OMV, Germany's Uniper and Wintershall, Royal Dutch Shell and France's Engie.

 

The Trump administration, like the Obama administration before it, opposes the project on the grounds it would strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin's economic and political grip over Europe. Russia has cut deliveries of the fuel to Ukraine and parts of Europe in winter during pricing disputes.

 

"We have a degree of consistency, over a decade of opposing this issue, across presidential administrations," one of the U.S. officials said.

 

The United States has become the world's top oil and gas producer in recent years and is aggressively trying to sell the products abroad. The Trump administration has touted U.S. liquefied natural gas as "freedom gas" that gives Europe an alternative to Russian supply.

 

Washington says that Nord Stream 2 would also likely deprive Ukraine of billions of dollars in gas transit fees.

 

Germany says it needs the gas as it weans itself off coal and nuclear power.

 

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Writing by Mohammad Zargham and Sonya Hepinstall; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-21

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[from the home of CC]

the world is tiring of this arrogance..

[Caps]

17 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

the world is tiring of this arrogance..

I could not agree more.

Maybe he should change the slogan from America First to America Interferes with Everything Else

He needs to P!sss off and let other countries get on with it

 

 

[tomacht8]

What's the difference from being dependent from US Gas then? How Trump deals with his allies in the trade war is obviously: Blackmail, constant threats and no reliability. Against this background, even Russia appears to be the better trading partner.

Edited December 21, 2019 by tomacht8

[FritsSikkink]

It is time for the rest of the world to put sanctions on the USA until they stop bullying everybody to do whatever the USA wants. Stop buying their weapons and their economy will nosedive.

Edited December 21, 2019 by FritsSikkink

[NE1]

It wasn't that long ago the E.U. wanted to build a pipeline that took Russia out of the equation as Putin was holding countries to ransom by raising prices and threatening to cut off supplies to Europe.

[CNXexpat]

It isn´t (surprisingly) not only a Trump thing. The Democrats voted also for it.

 

I wish the EU would sanction all gun maker in the US and their management. Reason: they make the life in the USA unsafe, so the EU has to protect the citizens...

[stevenl]

42 minutes ago, NE1 said:

It wasn't that long ago the E.U. wanted to build a pipeline that took Russia out of the equation as Putin was holding countries to ransom by raising prices and threatening to cut off supplies to Europe.

Yes, so? Up to the EU.

[jany123]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Swiss-Dutch company Allseas said it had suspended work on building a major Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline

Oh yes... this should be good. One would assume that the work being done by Allseas is under contract and that they could be sued for failing in their contractual obligations.... not to mention the prospect of counter sanctions by Russia.

 

Lol... combined with sanctions on China, Iran, NK.... oh yeah... merry Xmas world, america has just given you a Xmas pineapple, sans vaseline. 

[dimitriv]

54 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

What's the difference from being dependent from US Gas then? How Trump deals with his allies in the trade war is obviously: Blackmail, constant threats and no reliability. Against this background, even Russia appears to be the better trading partner.

 

Paying for Russian gas means paying a criminal and terrorist organisation. Don't forget that Russia is the only country pointing nuclear weapons at EU countries. It's the only country trying to change borders in Europe after WW2. It's the only country occupying territory of other European countries. When you buy Russian gas you pay 2 times. One time for the gas, the other time for the consequences of funding criminals and terrorists.

 

Germany and Merkel do not care about this. They have a history of committing crimes together with Russia.

 

Although Trump is a fool, I still prefer gas from other countries, including the US.

 

 

 

[car720]

17 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

Paying for Russian gas means paying a criminal and terrorist organisation.

and paying the US is not????

[dimitriv]

Just now, car720 said:

and paying the US is not????

 

No.

 

Tell me which crimes the US commit in the EU.  Are there US nuclear weapons pointed at EU cities ?

 

The Russian army is murdering people in European countries at this moment. The US army in Europe is only there to protect us against the Russian criminals. It is not that hard to see the difference.

 

 

 

[stevenl]

31 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

Paying for Russian gas means paying a criminal and terrorist organisation. Don't forget that Russia is the only country pointing nuclear weapons at EU countries. It's the only country trying to change borders in Europe after WW2. It's the only country occupying territory of other European countries. When you buy Russian gas you pay 2 times. One time for the gas, the other time for the consequences of funding criminals and terrorists.

 

Germany and Merkel do not care about this. They have a history of committing crimes together with Russia.

 

Although Trump is a fool, I still prefer gas from other countries, including the US.

 

 

 

So? That is an EU issue, not USA.

[dimitriv]

6 minutes ago, stevenl said:

So? That is an EU issue, not USA.

 

Funding criminals and terrorists operating globally is not only an EU issue. 

 

 

[tomacht8]

7 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

Funding criminals and terrorists operating globally is not only an EU issue. 

 

 

The saints or what?

The arms industry needs wars.

Here a list.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/united-states-bombings-of-other-countries-americas-bombing-list/5533371

 

 

[dimitriv]

4 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

The saints or what?

The arms industry needs wars.

Here a list.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/united-states-bombings-of-other-countries-americas-bombing-list/5533371

 

 

 

No EU countries in that list.

 

And about that website:

Wikipedia: 

Globalresearch.ca, a Canadian conspiracy theory website operated by Michel Chossudovsky's Centre for Research on Globalization

"the online spread of pro-Russia propaganda and of disinformation." 

"key accelerant role in helping popularize articles with little basis in fact that also happen to fit the narratives being pushed by the Kremlin"

 

Founded by a Russian, spreading fake Russian propaganda. Be careful with what you read online ????

 

[tomacht8]

2 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

No EU countries in that list.

 

And about that website:

Wikipedia: 

Globalresearch.ca, a Canadian conspiracy theory website operated by Michel Chossudovsky's Centre for Research on Globalization

"the online spread of pro-Russia propaganda and of disinformation." 

"key accelerant role in helping popularize articles with little basis in fact that also happen to fit the narratives being pushed by the Kremlin"

 

Founded by a Russian, spreading fake Russian propaganda. Be careful with what you read online ????

 

Aha.

So the list of bombed countries is wrong then?

[stevenl]

23 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

Funding criminals and terrorists operating globally is not only an EU issue. 

 

 

Disagree, but really don't want to get in another thread about the USA acting as world police.

[soalbundy]

The bully is at it again

[dimitriv]

14 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

Aha.

So the list of bombed countries is wrong then?

 

Maybe yes, maybe no. But the list with countries suffering from actions by Russia is much longer.

 

And I am mainly looking from a European perspective. Russia is the country that caused most deaths and misery in Europe. Russia means death, oppression, exploitation. Look at what happened after WW2 in Europe. Look at what happened with countries under Russian influence, and look at what happened with countries freed by the US and other western countries. And the same still applies today. Russia is the only country in Europe trying to change borders, waging wars against neighbouring countries, unermining security, pointing nuclear weapons at EU cities.

 

 

 

[dimitriv]

24 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Disagree, but really don't want to get in another thread about the USA acting as world police.

 

So...  You think the US should allow Germany to fund terrorists and criminals operating globally?

 

Who are we going to call when Russia starts to use the nuclear weapons pointed at EU cities ?  The weapons we paid for by buying Russian gas?

 

Hey, it's the EU calling the US:  We were not willing to pay 10% more for US gas but we prefered to fund Russian nuclear weapons and now they are shooting at us!  It hurts so much! Can you please come to help us like you did in WW2?  Yeah, we need the world police because we were to lazy to even spend 2% of our budget on self defense.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2019 by dimitriv

[stevenl]

2 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

So...  You think the US should allow Germany to fund terrorists and criminals operating globally?

 

Who are we going to call when Russia starts to use the nuclear weapons pointed at EU cities ?  The weapons we paid for by buying Russian gas?

 

Hey, it's the EU calling the US:  We were not willing to pay 10% more for US gas but we prefered to fund Russian nuclear weapons and now they are shooting at us!  It hurts so much! Can you please come to help us like you did in WW2?  

 

 

You replied to my post, bu maybe you did not read it or understand it. So I'll repeat it for you: "Disagree, but really don't want to get in another thread about the USA acting as world police.".

[dimitriv]

Just now, stevenl said:

You replied to my post, bu maybe you did not read it or understand it. So I'll repeat it for you: "Disagree, but really don't want to get in another thread about the USA acting as world police.".

 

Why not?  I would love to understand you, so I am really interested in your opinions.

 

 

[jany123]

14 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

Hey, it's the EU calling the US:  We were not willing to pay 10% more for US gas but we prefered to fund Russian nuclear weapons and now they are shooting at us!  It hurts so much! Can you please come to help us like you did in WW2?  Yeah, we need the world police because we were to lazy to even spend 2% of our budget on self defense.

Yer right... I remember that phone call.

 

the US said something like... we’ll sell y’all lots of lots of guns, which will keep you indebted to us well into the next century.

 

the US were war profiteering then, and had no intention of assisting Europe until they themselves were attacked, as it was all about the money.... they are still profiting from armament manufacture and now seem to be doing this by pushing alliances to the brink, to increase fear and sell more munitions... making more money

 

more money helps america.... meanwhile more munitions threaten world peace.... but hey... MAGA is about one nation, and it seems that it can only be achieved by knifing everyone else

[legend49]

Wont worry Putin he is a real leader. There are plenty of Russian companies who can complete the job.

[Jingthing]

I think this might be a good policy but being done for the wrong reasons. 

[Caps]

29 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

So...  You think the US should allow Germany to fund terrorists and criminals operating globally?

 

Who are we going to call when Russia starts to use the nuclear weapons pointed at EU cities ?  The weapons we paid for by buying Russian gas?

 

Hey, it's the EU calling the US:  We were not willing to pay 10% more for US gas but we prefered to fund Russian nuclear weapons and now they are shooting at us!  It hurts so much! Can you please come to help us like you did in WW2?  Yeah, we need the world police because we were to lazy to even spend 2% of our budget on self defense.

 

 

Why not let Germany fund terrorists?   After all Yanks are funding the Saudi terrorists to the point that the ones they were funding turned on them   Maybe a case of pot calling the kettle?

 

Well if I had my way I would not be calling the Yanks...point to note there is more than the US with a nuclear capacity, the UK and France can deploy too, yes i agree they dont have a lot but probably enough to obliterate most major cities in Russia, and some!

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

the world is tiring of this arrogance..

 

Yes, far be it from America or any other country to be allowed to choose who they will and won't do business with.

 

Especially if it effects the German governments hypocrisy.

[Baerboxer]

39 minutes ago, Caps said:

Why not let Germany fund terrorists?   After all Yanks are funding the Saudi terrorists to the point that the ones they were funding turned on them   Maybe a case of pot calling the kettle?

 

Well if I had my way I would not be calling the Yanks...point to note there is more than the US with a nuclear capacity, the UK and France can deploy too, yes i agree they dont have a lot but probably enough to obliterate most major cities in Russia, and some!

 

Er, the UK will be out of the EU. If you are relying on NATO, then NATO relies on the Americans. Maybe Germany should meet it's NATO spend on military commitments like some other EU countries should.

 

Germany, with ambitious carbon neutral targets, not wanting nuclear power, becomes more and more reliant on Russian gas, piped in by that nice Mr. Putin. What could go wrong?

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, dimitriv said:

 

Paying for Russian gas means paying a criminal and terrorist organisation. Don't forget that Russia is the only country pointing nuclear weapons at EU countries. It's the only country trying to change borders in Europe after WW2. It's the only country occupying territory of other European countries. When you buy Russian gas you pay 2 times. One time for the gas, the other time for the consequences of funding criminals and terrorists.

 

Germany and Merkel do not care about this. They have a history of committing crimes together with Russia.

 

Although Trump is a fool, I still prefer gas from other countries, including the US.

 

 

 

What a joke, the USA has invaded Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and a couple more. Is at war nonstop for over 200 years, has military bases all over the world and terrorizes everybody who buys something from countries they don't like.