Construction of Nord Stream 2 is progressing, but the project can still be stopped by the US

On Wednesday, Nord Stream 2 announced the launch of a new phase of the construction of an almost completed project: Fortuna joined the second unit, the Czerski Akademik, working in the Danish waters, to accelerate the laying of the last tens of kilometres of two strands of over 1200 km long pipeline.

Acceleration of work demonstrates Russia's determination, which, despite the withdrawal of more than 20 European companies from insurance and project financing with fear of US sanctions, seeks to complete the project as soon as possible and launch the transmission and to put the rest of the world before the fact. However, although the construction is on the finish line and according to Russian forecasts may end before the fall, the final success of the project is not yet established.

Joe Biden's attitude depends most on this issue. Although the current US sanctions under the CATSA Act have contributed to delays in the implementation and abandonment of some of the European NS2 partners, they have not led to a complete derailment of work. According to some analysts, a fatal blow to the project can cause further moves. It is about implementing the sanctions of the PEESCA, placed in the last year by Congress under the defence budget.

Biden's first actions in February for this reason were heavily limited and covered only two Russian entities, which has negligible consequences for the project. However, according to experts of the Center for Eastern Studies, "the application of the fuller PEESCA records – unless it becomes too late – can make the completion of the construction truly difficult".

Similar conviction prevails in the U.S. Congress. As PAP said the source in one of the key committees of the House of Representatives, among the majority of the representatives of both parties there is a consensus on the possibility – and necessity – of "doing real harm". After harsh criticism of the first February decisions of the State Department of Congress, Biden's administration tightened its position towards the project – at least rhetorically.

The head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, issued in March a statement condemning the gas pipeline as a political project that divides Europe and endangers Ukraine, and during his visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels, warned that companies cooperating with Nord Stream 2 risk being sanctioned. Additionally, Bloomberg reported that Washington is considering imposing restrictions on Nord Stream 2. In an interview with CNN last Sunday, however, Blinken said that the decision to complete the project "finally depends on its initiators", and the US field of action is limited. He also assured that regardless of the difference of opinion about the project, the US's relations with Germany would remain good.

The next step on sanctions is to be announced on 17 May. Then the State Department is to present Congress with a new list of entities involved in the construction of the gas pipeline to be subject to restrictions.

According to the source of PAP, the original belief in Congress was that Biden's administration was de facto going to allow NS2 to be completed in the name of not compromising relations with Berlin.

"Now it is not so certain. But at the same time there is no specific movement in this matter" - indicated the researcher.

Source: PAP