Sanctions on Nord Stream 2, last ditch effort to stop Russian-German energy checkmate (Video)

"Sanctions on Nord Stream 2, last ditch effort to stop Russian-German energy checkmate (Video)"
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 413 (December 24, 2019)
https://theduran.com/sanctions-on-nord-stream-2-last-ditch-effort-to-stop-russian-german-energy-checkmate-video/

Alex Christoforou: “Let’s talk about the sanctions for Nordstream 2 that were passed. They were part of a larger defense bill that Donald Trump signed this Friday, I believe. This defense bill, these sanctions, are targeting companies that are involved in the construction of Nordstream 2. Which is roughly a nine-billion, ten-billion Euro energy project. And the sanctions have already spooked the Swiss company, Allseas, which was laying down the last leg of pipeline from what I understand in the Baltic Sea … One of the reasons that Trump signed the bill and that Nordstream 2 is included in the “Defense” bill, I’m going to quote what was stated."

“A severe intervention in German and European internal affairs.”

Alex Christoforou: "The bill describes Nord Stream 2 as a “tool of coercion and political leverage” that Moscow could use against Berlin – and says it risks significantly weakening US ties to Germany and other European allies."

[1:29] Alexander Mercouris: “Let us first discuss what the actual effect of these sanctions will be. … The Swiss company that was laying the pipes has now suspended operations until it obtains clarification as to what the actual position is. The German government is absolutely furious about these sanctions and is now, apparently, talking to the U.S. about seeing some way, I suspect, to unblock these sanctions in order to allow the Swiss company to complete its work.

[18:58] Alexander Mercouris: “… the Mueller Investigation completely discredited that whole idea. But they can’t stop. And as a consequence, the United States cannot conduct diplomacy seriously. Now, Donald Trump himself has at various times criticized Nordstream 2. He has talked about sending these liquefied natural gas exports to Europe. I think that in a more rational or calm atmosphere, it would have been pointed out and explained to him that this isn’t going to work. We can’t get enough liquefied natural gas from the United States and Europe to dispense with Russian gas. But the atmosphere is not calm and rational. It is absolutely poisonous and hysterical. So inevitably and unavoidably, he goes with the flow. And the result is, he signs these sanctions bills into law which only damage, in the long term, or even in the short term, the interests of the United States. I repeat. The Russians will complete this pipeline, and at the same time, they have been gifted an entirely unnecessary quarrel between the Americans and the Germans. What sense does that make? None. None at all. Now can I just say that laying these pipes would not take very long. The sanctions bill supposedly gives 30 days for companies to unwind their operations so it would presumably be possible in those 30 days for this Swiss company to complete laying the pipes. But not surprisingly, and one should not criticize the Swiss company for this, the Swiss Directors who run the company were not prepared to risk their position with the U.S. by continuing with this project. So we will see if the Germans are able to negotiate something with the United States that will allow the Swiss company to complete the operations."

"But, this is the key point to understand: These sanctions are not going to stop Nord Stream 2. The Russians’ Gazprom made it absolutely clear that if there is any attempt by the United States to interfere with the last phase of construction of Nord Stream 2, through this company, the Russians will finish laying the pipeline themselves. Gazprom has vast experience of laying pipes. It has just completed work with laying the pipes for Turkstream that is simultaneously being built across the Black Sea. So the Russians have all the technology and all the expertise they need to finish Nord Stream 2. By themselves. And they have said in the past that they can and will do this. The only thing this is going to do is delay [the project] a few weeks or at most a few months even if these sanctions are indeed enforced against the Swiss company in the way the U.S. says. … not going to stop … purely a spoiler …

[4:16] … "What do we see here? We see the United States now imposing sanctions on its own allies and friends. It is saying to the Germans: ‘You cannot trade with Russia. You cannot build pipelines to Russia. You cannot buy gas from Russia, because if you do that will somehow give the Russians leverage over you. The Germans are not, in other words, allowed to make decisions about their own economic future and about their own relationships with other countries. They must, supposedly subject themselves to oversight on these vital, sovereign questions to the greater decisions of the United States. The Germans are absolutely furious about this. So, here we have the United States imposing sanctions that are only going to delay the completion of Nord Stream 2, at most by a few weeks or a few months, and in the process they are antagonizing and infuriating their most important European ally by treating that European ally, Germany, not as an ally and a friend, but as a vassal state."

[6:12]“I cannot understand the logic of this. It seems to me completely misconceived. It shows the level of arrogance and loss of Reality that you are getting in Washington. I remember just a few years ago in connection with the conflict over the Iranian nuclear program that John Kerry, at that time Secretary of State, said in an interview that for the United States to start sanctioning its own allies would be a CRAZY thing for the U.S. to do. That in the end, it could only undermine the relationship of those allies with the United States and ultimately jeopardize the future position of the dollar. That was what John Kerry said as Secretary of State. And now the United States is doing it. It shows how far from Reality the U.S. has become.”

Alex Christoforou: “Isn’t Germany to blame for all of this? You say that the U.S. has treated them like a vassal state. But in my opinion, Germany has acted like a vassal state. Only take the last five or six years, with Ukraine going forward. Germany has acted like a complete vassal state to the U.S. So why should the U.S. not treat it like a vassal state."

Alexander Mercouris: “… Angela Merkel’s policies … supported a U.S. neocon regime-change agenda in Ukraine … then a … encouraged the U.S. to demand more … when you do not stand up for your own country …"

"[no less a person than the British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher backed the German attitude to European energy during the Cold War] …"

“This whole thing that has happened now, is a testament to Merkel’s policy of incessantly appeasing the U.S. It has now come to bite her. She never thought it would happen because she had this good relationship with Barack Obama. It never occurred to her that one day the Americans would actually come after Germany itself. And now, of course, it’s happened. … "

…

[13:06] What Putin and Lavrov said … By now a canned response … They will respond appropriately. … They never say what they’re going to do."

Geopolitically it works in Russian interests. They can sit back, finish the pipeline, and pull in their winnings.

Russophobia … they can’t stop ...can’t conduct diplomacy“A severe intervention in German and European internal affairs.”

The bill describes Nord Stream 2 as a “tool of coercion and political leverage” that Moscow could use against Berlin – and says it risks significantly weakening US ties to Germany and other European allies."

But, this is the key point to understand: These sanctions are not going to stop Nord Stream 2. The Russians’ Gazprom made it absolutely clear that if there is any attempt by the United States to interfere with the last phase of construction of Nord Stream 2, through this company, the Russians will finish laying the pipeline themselves. Gazprom has vast experience of laying pipes. It has just completed work with laying the pipes for Turkstream that is simultaneously being built across the Black Sea. So the Russians have all the technology and all the expertise they need to finish Nord Stream 2. By themselves. And they have said in the past that they can and will do this. The only thing this is going to do is delay [the project] a few weeks or at most a few months even if these sanctions are indeed enforced against the Swiss company in the way the U.S. says. … not going to stop … purely a spoiler …"

[4:16] … What do we see here? We see the United States now imposing sanctions on its own allies and friends. It is saying to the Germans: ‘You cannot trade with Russia. You cannot build pipelines to Russia. You cannot buy gas from Russia, because if you do that will somehow give the Russians leverage over you. The Germans are not, in other words, allowed to make decisions about their own economic future and about their own relationships with other countries. They must, supposedly subject themselves to oversight on these vital, sovereign questions to the greater decisions of the United States. The Germans are absolutely furious about this. So, here we have the United States imposing sanctions that are only going to delay the completion of Nord Stream 2, at most by a few weeks or a few months, and in the process they are antagonizing and infuriating their most important European ally by treating that European ally, Germany, not as an ally and a friend, but as a vassal state."

Alexander Mercouris: “… Angela Merkel’s policies … supported a U.S. neocon regime-change agenda in Ukraine … then a … encouraged t

he U.S. to demand more … when you do not stand up for your own country …"

[no less a person than the British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher backed the German attitude to European energy during the Cold War] …"

…

[13:06] What Putin and Lavrov said … by now a canned response … They will respond appropriately. … They never say what they’re going to do."

Geopolitically it works in Russian interests. They can sit back, finish the pipeline, and pull in their winnings."

Russophobia … they can’t stop ...can’t conduct diplomacy. ...