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Biden Silent as Putin Blackmails Europe Over Nord Stream 2

Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 2021
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by AMAC Newsline
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26 Comments
Europe

AMAC Exclusive – By Aaron Kliegman

Winter is coming, and Russia is salivating.

As the weather turns cold and bitter in Europe, energy prices are skyrocketing. Europeans need to heat their homes, but supply is limited, and cost is prohibitive.

That’s bad news for just about everyone in Europe. Everyone, that is, except Russia. As the European Union (E.U.) has sought to eliminate domestic fossil fuels in recent years, production from renewables hasn’t kept up, leaving the continent dangerously close to an energy crisis – and dangerously reliant on Russia to make up the difference. With the added stress on the industry from COVID-19, Europe is now largely dependent on Russian exports, and vulnerable to surges in oil and gas prices caused completely by the whims of Russian state actors.

This wouldn’t be such a problem if Russia were a genuine partner acting in good faith. But that’s not reality. European politicians are now desperately requesting that Russia ramp up production and shipments of natural gas to the rest of Europe. Such an increase would end the gas shortage, reduce costs, and help Europeans stay warm this winter.

Gazprom, the Russian state-controlled gas giant, could easily increase production, meet Europe’s demands, and solve this energy crisis. Instead, the head of Gazprom and Russian President Vladimir Putin are falsely claiming Gazprom is near its maximum production levels and can’t increase supply and risk jeopardizing Russia’s energy reserves.

Everyone knows Russia is lying, but Europe can’t do anything about it because Moscow has all the strategic leverage. What’s worse, they clearly know it and are more than willing to use that leverage to their advantage. Just read what Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told an energy conference earlier this month.

“I think there are two factors, which could somewhat cool off the current situation,” Novak said. “First of all, of course, this is, definitely, completion of certification and the fastest clearance for gas supplies via the completed Nord Stream 2,” referring to the Russian gas pipeline to Europe that has been under construction since 2016.

Putin himself echoed Novak’s message this week — only he was blunter: Russia can increase gas supplies to Europe only once Germany approves Nord Stream 2.

In other words, immediately approve Nord Stream 2, or freeze this winter. That’s Russia’s message to Europe. It’s blackmail. And it’ll probably work.

Completing Nord Stream 2 has been one of Russia’s most important foreign policy objectives for years. The pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine by running on the bed of the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, will put a fortune in the Kremlin’s pockets. More importantly, however, it will give Moscow significant leverage over Europe, potentially driving a wedge between the U.S. and our European allies. It’s already happening, even before the pipeline is fully operational.

In response, the E.U. isn’t threatening sanctions, but is rather speeding up licensing requirements for Nord Stream 2. The continent is bowing down to Putin, just as he wants.

Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, President Joe Biden is silent — perhaps because he’s largely responsible for creating this predicament.

Before Biden entered office, the Trump administration vocally opposed Nord Stream 2 and imposed sanctions on the project. Congress was in rare bipartisan agreement, similarly opposing the pipeline’s construction—largely based on worries about exactly the kind of scenario now playing out. Seeing such a widespread consensus, Biden also said he was against it upon assuming the presidency.

Four months into the job, however, Biden waived the harshest sanctions on the project largely because he wanted a one-day media story by scoring a summit with Putin, and in July the administration reached a deal with Germany to greenlight the pipeline without the imposition of further sanctions. In September, construction of the pipeline was completed, and Russia has begun filling it with gas. Once it gets clearance from German regulators, Nord Stream 2 will be fully operational.

Biden defended his actions by saying that because Nord Stream 2 was nearly complete, sanctions would only aggravate Germany and couldn’t stop construction. This defense is demonstrably false. Sanctions had halted construction. Sustained pressure could’ve possibly saved Europe from a future of Russian blackmail. At the very least it would have sent an important message to the world: The U.S. doesn’t endorse this pipeline, and those who use it may face consequences.

Instead, Europe must now beg Putin for scraps.

But this isn’t just about Nord Stream 2. Recall how Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline in the U.S. Beyond the economic benefits for America, the pipeline could’ve transported crude oil down to the Gulf of Mexico and then on to Europe. The pipeline would’ve boosted the energy security of not only the U.S., but also our European allies.

Instead, the Biden administration sacrificed energy security and geopolitical interests upon the altar of unrealistic climate goals.

Biden has promised countless times to rebuild and nurture America’s alliances. He’s also promised to get tough with Russia and Putin. As the current energy crisis in Europe makes clear, Biden has already broken both promises.

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johnh
johnh
2 years ago

Call it blackmail if you want, but do you want to freeze during winter or have energy to keep your home warm. I urge Americans to be observant & keep a close watch on Biden’s war on fossil fuels . He has not shown any proof to me that we will have enough renewable energy under his plan, but will only make USA more dependent on foreign imports. Biden plan has too short a time frame & might be okay in 50-years.

MIKE FAILLA
MIKE FAILLA
2 years ago

Trump knew this and even mentioned it numerous times. Is anyone surprised that putin did what trump said he would do ?

Rosalee Cavanaugh
Rosalee Cavanaugh
2 years ago

Why are we so upset with Russia making money? Of course any good government even a communist government wants to make money. Too bad our Biden government wants to crush ours. When Obama was Pres., Massachusetts got its gas from Russia and not Pennsylvania. OPEC wants to screw us too. Thank G0d I kept my mink to keep me warm this winter.

Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
2 years ago

Anybody out there remember what they done to Mouselenie and his wife in WW 2. ??? Kyle L.

CoNMTX
CoNMTX
2 years ago

Loopy Joe is silent on the matter because his handlers haven’t printed out yet in crayon what he is to say. Then they need to wind him up for the cameras. Maybe a small electroshock to get the 27 remaining brain cells going again.

Rik
Rik
2 years ago

Jackass Joe “Lyin” Biden obviously knew that this WOULD BENEFIT RUSSIA and HE DID CARE! . . . He’s a FELLOW COMMUNIST and every crisis he has created IS TO HURT AMERICA and WHY AREN’T REPUBLICANS STOPPING HIM???
The Republicans NEVER refer to Jackass Joe or ANY Democrat AS COMMUNISTS, WHY NOT???

Boz
Boz
2 years ago

All being done intentionally.

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
2 years ago

Biden is IN ON pipeline 2 project vs OUR pipelines

George
George
2 years ago

Isn’t it ironic that the democrats spent more than two years accusing and impeaching President Trump over his supposed ties to Russia when it seems that Biden seems to be cooperating closely with Russia?

Henry McElroy
Henry McElroy
2 years ago

We the Sovereign American People (WTSAP) en masse do still have Total Total Political Control that we do temporarily delegate to delegates in good behavior but we do not currently use this power en masse as Originally Intended. If we would use this Power en masse again as Originally Intended we would stop a lot of foolish, destructive behaviors by our public servants. Wake Up Americans en masse and obey our lawful Rule of Lawfare responsibilities. Start by reading: >The second paragraph of our 1776 Declaration of Independence, then >Read the 10th Bill of Rights of the New Hampshire state constitution (RIGHT OF REVOLTING AGAINST UN-AMERICAN ACTS BY PUBLIC SERVANTS AS SOON AS THEY HAPPEN), then >Read Article 4 Section 1 of the US Constitution. Then >Peruse two of Ray Raphael’s books about how WTSAP en masse in 1773-1776-1781 successfully formed and then KEPT our American Republic —as Ben Franklin warned us in 1789 We would have to do again— against great odds with their impromptu leaders. One of Raphael’s books is, “A People’s History of the American Revolution — how Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence.” A second book is, “The First American Revolution — Before Lexington and Concord.”
Read the above several items, pray to God Almighty for his continued Piloting, and be saved again en masse; except this time with much better odds on We the People’s side, Godspeed.

Bobfisherman
Bobfisherman
2 years ago

Biden and Harris and Pelosi are doing the same thing here in the USA they saying that it’s part of there green deal ????? If it was true and there worried about the climate then why are they making us dependant on foreign oil ????? The foreign oil is pumped out of the ground the same as here when President Trump was in office…….It makes me wounder what them foreign oil companies are giveing Biden and Harris and Pelosi and her gang that makes the democratic party cause us American citizens to go broke by paying the high cost of gas and heating fuel in our country…..I say we need answers …..Looks to me that the democratic party just useing the words climate change for there own political/personal gains…..its clear to see that ….

Kelly Chulick
Kelly Chulick
2 years ago

It’s very interesting how Biden can just about do whatever he wants, with or without congress approval, but Trump was scrutinized to the 100th degree for trying to put Americans first and make us energy independent…. Civil war and a possible world war might be closer than we think! ????????

David F.
David F.
2 years ago

Not a student of history, does not look farther than “his” want and has zero empathy for the American people. Not a dynamic leader!

Drue
Drue
2 years ago

Biden is an Idiot and knows little about foreign policy. He has pissed off our European allies and made a mess of our energy situation. What a putz. I’m not sure if we can survive until 2022 when hopefully republicans can regain the house and senate. Biden is like a spoiled little boy with a hammer in a China shop.

PaulE
PaulE
2 years ago

Anyone with any knowledge of how Putin operates knew Putin would leverage Nord Stream 2 for his own benefit. France and several other European countries kept telling Merkel this as well, but she was determined to throw Putin an economic lifeline. Numerous people told the Biden administration that this would happen as well, but all they cared about was reversing a Trump era policy and sending a signal to the climate change crowd. Virtue signaling has real costs.

Stan
Stan
2 years ago

I agree with the article

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