The controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline is almost complete, and many want it to stay that way. Bypassing Eastern Europe, Nord Stream 2 allows Russia to transport natural gas directly to Germany from Russia, increasing Russian energy dependence in Western Europe while simultaneously increasing Russia’s political leverage in Eastern Europe. While Russia’s actions regarding Belarus and its poisoning of Putin critic Alexei Navalny with one of the Russian-created Novichok nerve agents have drawn criticism from officials in Germany, Finland, however, has not been persuaded to take decisive action against the project. Things are different in Washington, where Congress has included additional sanctions against Nord Stream 2 in the National Defense Authorization Act.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been one of the key leaders in a bipartisan effort to halt completion of Nord Stream 2. Senator Cruz joins for a fireside chat with Dan De Luce, national security and global affairs reporter for NBC News, to discuss why Nord Stream 2 matters to America’s national security interests, and his role in the fight to stop the pipeline. Following this conversation, Christopher Robinson, deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs within the US Department of State, Nicholas Kazvini-Gore, legislative assistant for Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Debra Cagan, distinguished energy fellow at the Transatlantic Leadership Network, and Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt, postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University, join a panel moderated by Ambassador John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.
The Impact of European Gas Dependence
Nord Stream 2
Natural gas plays an important role in Europe: It is a bridging technology for the transition of the electricity system and has significant potential. But Europe is strongly dependent on natural gas imports and Russian gas dominates Europe. The under construction Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite its promises, poses significant risks to European energy security and independence.
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The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting policies that strengthen stability, democratic values, and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe in the West to the Caucasus, Russia, and Central Asia in the East.