US Vice President Mike Pence called on Saturday on the European countries to follow example of the states that are opposing construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
MUNICH (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th February, 2019) US Vice President Mike Pence called on Saturday on the European countries to follow example of the states that are opposing construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
"The United States commends all our European partners, who have taken a strong stance against Nord Stream 2. And we commend others to do the same," Pence said at the Munich Security Conference.
Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Russian gas giant Gazprom and five European companies. It aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters (1.9 trillion cubic feet) of Russian natural gas annually to the European Union via the Baltic Sea and Germany. The pipeline project has been welcomed by some countries in Europe and opposed by the others, who raise concerns over alleged danger of Europe's dependence on Russia and the subsequent diminished transit role of Ukraine.
Washington has been also strongly opposing the project. In this regard, Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced the belief that US leader Donald Trump was seeking to force Russia out of the European energy market so that the United States could sell more liquefied natural gas to Europe. Moscow has also reiterated that the pipeline is a purely commercial project.
