US-Germany Announce Agreement Statement on Nord Stream 2 Establishment... "Will Prevent Russian Weaponization"

Guarantee of Ukraine Gas Transit Fees and Promise of Green Fund Support
US Republicans Oppose: "Threat to US and Allied National Security"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United States and Germany have agreed to complete the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which had triggered diplomatic tensions between the two countries, and issued a joint statement. Both countries emphasized that they would fundamentally block Russia's attempt to weaponize the gas pipeline, a concern shared not only by the U.S. but also by NATO member countries. However, Eastern European countries such as Ukraine and Poland have strongly opposed this completion agreement. Within the U.S., opposition voices, mainly from the Republican Party, are rising, and the controversy is expected to grow.

On the 21st (local time), the U.S. and German governments announced through a joint statement that they had agreed to complete the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In the joint statement, they emphasized, "We will maintain appropriate sanctions and readiness to respond to Russia's malicious activities aimed at weaponizing energy," and "We will ensure that Russia does not misuse gas pipelines, including Nord Stream 2, to achieve aggressive political objectives."

Additionally, they stated, "Germany will use all possible means to enable Russia to extend its gas transport contract with Ukraine for up to 10 years, and the U.S. fully supports these efforts," and "We also promise to support Ukraine with green energy technology and a $1 billion green fund."

Nord Stream 2 is a gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany. Previously, the U.S. and NATO member countries opposed its completion, fearing that Russia might exploit the pipeline as a political weapon after its installation. Ukraine, which shares a border with Russia and is engaged in conflict, has strongly opposed it.

In particular, Ukraine opposed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline because if it were installed, Ukraine would lose gas transit fee revenues amounting to $2 billion annually (approximately 2.3 trillion KRW), making it difficult to maintain its national security. Existing gas pipelines from Russia to Western Europe pass through Ukrainian territory, so the Ukrainian government has received fees whenever Russia exports gas to Europe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the agreement in an interview with the U.S. political media Axios, saying, "The contents of the agreement fall far short of Ukraine's hopes and do not resolve national security issues." NATO member countries in Eastern Europe, such as Poland, are also reported to oppose the agreement.

Within the U.S., opposition voices are rising mainly from the Republican Party. Jim Risch, a Republican U.S. Senator on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the agreement in a statement, saying, "It is full of promises and assurances but lacks meaningful action and threatens the national security of the U.S. and its allies."