In my blog entry of 10/4/2018, I wrote that,
"Germany has approved the construction and operation of the Russia-built Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, its operator and the German maritime authority said on Tuesday.
...
The Nord Stream 2 operator said it expected that other four countries along the route of the undersea gas pipeline – Russia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark – will issue permits in the coming months." (Reuters : March 27, 2018) (my emphasis)
"Unfortunately, however, whilst Finland has recently given Putin permission "to use the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the construction of the pipeline", little Denmark finds itself in a real political quandary over whether it, too, should allow Putin's gas pipeline to cross through its territorial waters.
As reported by Stine Jacobsen and Alissa de Carbonnel (left),
"The Danish government is facing fierce lobbying by Russia, EU allies and the United States over the 9.5 billion euro ($11.7 billion) Nord Stream 2 project championed by President Vladimir Putin and financed by five Western firms.
...
A Danish veto, under new legislation allowing it to do so on security grounds, would force Russia, which supplies about one third of Europe’s gas needs, to find a new route for the pipeline.
...
“This is not about gas, it is one of the most important foreign policy decisions in Denmark since the Cold War,” said senior foreign policy researcher Hans Mouritzen at the Danish Institute for International Studies." (Reuters : March 26, 2018) (my emphasis)" (blog)
And just recently,
"Denmark is the last hold out in Europe, yet to give permission for the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline after the Swedish government became the latest EU country to sign off on construction permissions for the pipeline that will carry Russian gas from the Yamal peninsula under the Baltic Sea to Germany." (bneIntelliNews : June 13, 2018) (my emphasis)
“This is an important milestone for the Nord Stream 2 project. We are
pleased to have obtained the Swedish government’s approval to construct
and operate the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline,” said Lars O Grönstedt, Senior
Advisor at Nord Stream 2, quoted in an official press release." (Georgi Gotev (left):EuroActiv : June 11, 2018)
One can now begin to imagine the increasing pressure that will be exerted on the Danish parliament to also give Putin permission for his Nord Steam 2 pipeline to pass through Danish waters.
All those countries which have given Putin his Nord Stream 2 "Go Past Go and collect $100" Monopoly ticket cannot simply argue that their decisions are based purely on economic criteria.
What their decisions have done is to actively support Putin in weaponizing this pipeline against Ukraine.
As Hans Mouritzen correctly argues,
“This is not about gas, it is one of the most important foreign policy decisions in Denmark since the Cold War.” (ibid Stine Jacobsen and Alissa de Carbonnel)
This decision of Sweden has even further significance in view of Trump's determination to steam ahead with his summit with Putin.
As reported by
"Moscow and Washington are "exploring" the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders, according to US officials and a Russian media report.
...
Key for Putin at this impending summit between himself and Trump will be to ensure that no US sanctions will be imposed on EU companies helping in the construction of the Nord Sea 2 pipeline IF Denmark also gives permission for it to pass through Danish waters.
As William Wilkes recently reported,
"The U.S. stepped up its opposition to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas
pipeline linking Russia and Germany, saying the project raises security
concerns and that it could draw U.S. sanctions.
...
U.S. threats to Nord Stream 2, which has split eastern and western EU states, could impact companies in Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands. (Bloomberg : May 17, 2018) (my emphasis)
Let us now recall that at the Trump-Kim Jong Un summit, Trump suddenly announced that he was ending the joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. (Brad Lendon : CNN : June 12, 2018)
When the Trump-Putin summit takes places, will he also suddenly announce that Nord Stream 2 can go ahead, without the incurring of US sanctions on EU companies helping to build Nord Stream 2?
Everything now depends on the decision that the Danish parliament will take regarding Nord Stream 2 passing through their territorial waters.
(to be continued)
"Germany has approved the construction and operation of the Russia-built Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, its operator and the German maritime authority said on Tuesday.
...
The Nord Stream 2 operator said it expected that other four countries along the route of the undersea gas pipeline – Russia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark – will issue permits in the coming months." (Reuters : March 27, 2018) (my emphasis)
"Unfortunately, however, whilst Finland has recently given Putin permission "to use the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the construction of the pipeline", little Denmark finds itself in a real political quandary over whether it, too, should allow Putin's gas pipeline to cross through its territorial waters.
As reported by Stine Jacobsen and Alissa de Carbonnel (left),"The Danish government is facing fierce lobbying by Russia, EU allies and the United States over the 9.5 billion euro ($11.7 billion) Nord Stream 2 project championed by President Vladimir Putin and financed by five Western firms.
...
A Danish veto, under new legislation allowing it to do so on security grounds, would force Russia, which supplies about one third of Europe’s gas needs, to find a new route for the pipeline.
...
“This is not about gas, it is one of the most important foreign policy decisions in Denmark since the Cold War,” said senior foreign policy researcher Hans Mouritzen at the Danish Institute for International Studies." (Reuters : March 26, 2018) (my emphasis)" (blog)
And just recently,
"Denmark is the last hold out in Europe, yet to give permission for the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline after the Swedish government became the latest EU country to sign off on construction permissions for the pipeline that will carry Russian gas from the Yamal peninsula under the Baltic Sea to Germany." (bneIntelliNews : June 13, 2018) (my emphasis)“This is an important milestone for the Nord Stream 2 project. We are
pleased to have obtained the Swedish government’s approval to construct
and operate the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline,” said Lars O Grönstedt, Senior
Advisor at Nord Stream 2, quoted in an official press release." (Georgi Gotev (left):EuroActiv : June 11, 2018)One can now begin to imagine the increasing pressure that will be exerted on the Danish parliament to also give Putin permission for his Nord Steam 2 pipeline to pass through Danish waters.
All those countries which have given Putin his Nord Stream 2 "Go Past Go and collect $100" Monopoly ticket cannot simply argue that their decisions are based purely on economic criteria.
What their decisions have done is to actively support Putin in weaponizing this pipeline against Ukraine.
As Hans Mouritzen correctly argues,
“This is not about gas, it is one of the most important foreign policy decisions in Denmark since the Cold War.” (ibid Stine Jacobsen and Alissa de Carbonnel)
This decision of Sweden has even further significance in view of Trump's determination to steam ahead with his summit with Putin.
As reported by
"Moscow and Washington are "exploring" the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders, according to US officials and a Russian media report.
...
While nothing is imminent, the official acknowledged there are ongoing discussions of setting up a Putin-Trump face-to-face.
...
Another
source with the National Security Council said a meeting "is being
worked on" and a diplomatic source added that a meeting is likely to
happen soon." (CNN : 15 June, 2018) (my emphasis)
Key for Putin at this impending summit between himself and Trump will be to ensure that no US sanctions will be imposed on EU companies helping in the construction of the Nord Sea 2 pipeline IF Denmark also gives permission for it to pass through Danish waters.
As William Wilkes recently reported,
"The U.S. stepped up its opposition to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas
pipeline linking Russia and Germany, saying the project raises security
concerns and that it could draw U.S. sanctions....
U.S. threats to Nord Stream 2, which has split eastern and western EU states, could impact companies in Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands. (Bloomberg : May 17, 2018) (my emphasis)
Let us now recall that at the Trump-Kim Jong Un summit, Trump suddenly announced that he was ending the joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. (Brad Lendon : CNN : June 12, 2018)
When the Trump-Putin summit takes places, will he also suddenly announce that Nord Stream 2 can go ahead, without the incurring of US sanctions on EU companies helping to build Nord Stream 2?
Everything now depends on the decision that the Danish parliament will take regarding Nord Stream 2 passing through their territorial waters.
- If they say "No", then no matter what Trump says, Nord Stream 2 will be scuppered.
- If they say "Yes", then Trump will go against the US government.
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