US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on July 15 the US State Department will include the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany and the second string of the TurkStream project into projects falling under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
“Today the Department of State is updating the public guidance for CAATSA authorities to include Nord Stream 2 and the second line of TurkStream 2,” Pompeo said. “This action puts investments or other activities that are related to these Russian energy export pipelines at risk of US sanctions. It’s a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia’s malign influence projects will not be tolerated. Get out now, or risk the consequences,” he said.
Pompeo reiterated Washington’s earlier claim that Russia uses energy as a weapon. “Let me be clear: These aren’t commercial projects. They are Kremlin’s key tools to exploit and expand European dependence on Russian energy supplies, tools that undermine Ukraine by cutting off gas transiting that critical democracy, a tool that ultimately undermines transatlantic security,” Pompeo, adding that the US is always ready to help Europe meet its energy needs. The US is trying to export liquefied natural (LNG) to Europe. “Today I have with me Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources Frank Fannon, who will take questions here when I’m complete with respect to this action,” the US Secretary of State said.
TASS quoted Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying the US is using political pressure for unfair competition purposes, extending sanctions to the Nord Stream 2 and the TurkStream gas pipelines. “This is the use of political pressure for unfair competition purposes,” she said. “This is an indicator of weakness of the US system. There are no efficient tools other than forcing tactics,” Zakharova added.
