WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee scheduled a closed-door hearing on Sept. 29 to discuss Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, which several lawmakers say could harm allies in Eastern Europe.
Amos Hochstein, senior adviser for energy security at the U.S. Department of State, will testify, according to the committee’s website.
Both European and U.S. lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, opposed the $11 billion pipeline, which could allow Russia to double lucrative gas exports to Germany and other parts of Europe while bypassing and cutting off a source of income for political foe Ukraine.
Russia’s Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said earlier this month it had finished construction of the pipeline, which would deliver gas from the Arctic via the Baltic Sea. read more
The Biden administration has urged Germany to find ways to ensure Russia cannot use the pipeline to harm Ukraine or other allies in Eastern Europe.
The Biden administration concluded in May that Nord Stream 2 AG, the company behind the project, and its chief executive engaged in sanctionable behavior. But President Joe Biden waived the sanctions to allow time to work out a deal and continue rebuilding ties with Germany that were badly frayed during former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The president is under intense pressure from members of Congress to halt the waiver and impose the sanctions. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a member of the foreign relations committee, is holding up many of Biden’s nominees for State Department posts until the sanctions are put in place.
Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Lisa Shumaker
(c) Reuters
Will Biden back down, or will Cruz? We all know what should happen, but Biden has other ideas, and his warped brain somehow thinks Germany are on our side, when it’s obvious to everyone they are on the side of the terrorists.
Cruz will never back downe, never!
He’s one of the few left over in our government with brains and balls.
Ted will be a hero to Ukraine if he somehow pulls this off. Looks like he’s the last shot in the locker.
Cruz for president!
I would definitely favour that if he pulls off this miracle. I favour Rubio because of his long standing and firm commitment to Ukraine and distain for the rodent. Cruz was a joint second choice for me, along with Haley and Pompeo.
What baffles me about Ted is the fact that he supports Trump despite the diabolical and groundless allegations Trump made about Cruz Sr being complicit in the murder of JFK. I would have wanted his head on a pike for that.
“The Biden administration has urged Germany to find ways to ensure Russia cannot use the pipeline to harm Ukraine or other allies in Eastern Europe.”
This ejaculated slop should have made certain that such a measure is out of the question BEFORE he nodded his head like a jackass in agreement to NSII.
Weak, weaker, weakest, Biden…