According to the Financial Times, German politicians are working on a solution that will allow them to convince Washington to drop sanctions on the pipeline. In particular, the FRG authorities are considering the possibility of using a mechanism that would allow Germany to independently block Nord Stream-2 if Russia, for example, puts pressure on Ukraine and arbitrarily reduces supplies through its gas transportation system.
Berlin hopes that the new US administration will try to find a different approach to the Nord Stream-2 theme. In addition, the publication draws attention to the newly acquired relevance of the book of the new US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken “Ally against ally: America, Europe and the Siberian pipeline crisis”. The book has nothing to do with Nord Stream-2 – it was published back in 1987. In it, Blinken examines the scandal that erupted between the United States and Europe in the early 1980s over a new pipeline needed to supply gas from the Soviet Union to Europe.
In his book, Blinken examines the actions of the Reagan administration, which imposed sanctions on the project, which led to one of the worst crises in transatlantic relations during the Cold War. Blinken argues that it is more important for Washington to take care of its allies than to dictate to them the terms of economic relations with Moscow.