US Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have introduced a bill on May 14 that would impose targeted sanctions against vessels involved in constructing the proposed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline and other Russian energy projects.
“Nord Stream 2 threatens Europe’s energy security and America’s national security,” said Cruz. “The United States simply cannot allow Russia to dominate Europe’s energy future.”
Shaheen said, “Unfortunately, [Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin] is dangling the prospect of cheap gas in front of some of our closest allies to monopolize the supply of energy in Europe and bring increased instability to the continent.”
She warned, “This pipeline has the tremendous potential to compromise energy security throughout the continent for decades.”
Their action came hours after Tass, Russia’s official news agency, quoted Gazprom Deputy Chairman Vitaly Markelov saying that only 40 km remains to be built of the 800-km Russian portion of the proposed pipeline from Russia beneath the Baltic Sea to Germany.
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].
Nick Snow
NICK SNOW covered oil and gas in Washington for more than 30 years. He worked in several capacities for The Oil Daily and was founding editor of Petroleum Finance Week before joining OGJ as its Washington correspondent in September 2005 and becoming its full-time Washington editor in October 2007. He retired from OGJ in January 2020.
