US threatened Germany with sanctions over Nord Stream 2

United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has warned German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas about new sanctions if the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is completed.

According to UNIAN, Blinken said this at a press conference in Brussels after the completion of a two-day meeting of the NATO foreign ministers, which took place on March 23-24 at the headquarters of the Alliance.

According to the US Secretary of State, Germany is one of the closest allies of the United States, but on Nord Stream 2, both countries have real differences. "It's not a secret to anyone," Blinken said.

However, according to him, both countries will not allow the gas pipeline issue to become an obstacle to joint cooperation on other issues.

Blinken said that on March 23 he had a good meeting with Maas and other German colleagues on the bilateral agenda, as well as interaction in NATO through the European Union and the UN.

“And it is also true that President Joseph Biden has already very clearly emphasized on several occasions, and in his opinion, Nord Stream 2 is a bad idea. And I repeated this thought directly to Foreign Minister Meuse, and I made it clear that the companies, those involved in the construction of the gas pipeline run the risk of falling under US sanctions, "Blinken emphasized.

The Secretary of State stressed that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline "divides Europe, subjects Ukraine and Central Europe to Russian pressure and manipulation, and contradicts Europe's own stated goals of energy security."

Blinken noted that he told Maas that the United States will continue to monitor activities to complete or bring the pipeline into operation. "And if such activities take place, we will take a decision on the application of sanctions," Blinken stressed.

He also said that he personally made it clear to Maas that there is no ambiguity in the US position.