Another U.S. war with Germany?
Over a natural gas pipeline?
Last week German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be completed. He emphasized in comments the only question that remains is precisely "when this will happen ... We make decisions about our energy policy and energy supply here - in Europe."
Russia and Germany say the U.S. has delayed completion of the pipeline but it will be completed. Swiss pipelaying company Allseas had abandoned its central roll in the project in December 2019 under threat of US punitive action. Russian gas giant Gazprom then equipped its own ships to lay the last 100 miles of the pipeline.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had vowed he'll "do everything" to stop Nord Stream 2, last month, which he sees as a huge compromise to Russia, giving it leverage over Europe, and Ukraine. “From the US point of view, Nord Stream 2 endangers Europe because it makes it dependent on Russian gas and endangers Ukraine - which in my opinion worries many Germans.”
The U.S. State Department expanded U.S. sanctions targeting specific European companies, and their executives, working on the Russia to Germany gas pipeline ... to companies upgrading, servicing, or installing equipment on the ships laying the pipeline. "Such activities subject to sanctions pursuant to PEESA (the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act of 2019) or other authorities may include, but are not limited to, providing services or facilities for upgrades or installation of equipment for those vessels, or funding for upgrades or installation of equipment for those vessels."
The State Department says the sanctions "will not apply to persons providing provisions to a relevant vessel if such provisions are intended for the safety and care of the crew aboard the vessel, the protection of human life aboard the vessel, or the maintenance of the vessel to avoid any environmental or other significant damage.