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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSanctions on Nord Stream 2 Could Harm Relations with Germany, U.S. Senators Say
Several Democratic U.S. senators said late on Monday, after meeting with Biden administration officials, that they believe sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline backed by Republican Senator Ted Cruz could harm relations with Germany.
Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and President Joe Biden's global energy security adviser Amos Hochstein met on Monday behind closed doors with about 10 Democratic senators who have been undecided on the Cruz bill.
The legislation is expected to get a Senate vote this week after both parties struck a deal last month, in which Cruz released his hold on dozens of Biden ambassador nominations. The deal requires the bill to get 60 votes -- a high hurdle in the 50-50 Senate. The bill would also have to pass in the House and be signed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
Several senators told reporters that the administration officials were persuasive. Senator Chris Murphy said they made the case that Cruz's bill could harm relations with Germany's new government right when Washington needs its support to pressure Russia against an invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/sanctions-nord-stream-harm-relations-493375
hunter
(38,264 posts)... thus their continued dependence on coal, and increasing dependence on Russian natural gas.
The U.S.A. doesn't have pure motivations. The U.S.A. would happily increase exports of coal and liquefied natural gas to Germany.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)The US voter would be very unhappy.
hunter
(38,264 posts)Gas exports are skyrocketing, especially LNG.
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9133us2a.htm
This drives up natural gas prices in the U.S.A.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)harumph
(1,871 posts)Russia (pop 144 million), a land with so much potential - many lovely people - enduring unimaginable cruelty by Germany in WW2,
yet still bearing the psychic scarring - having a paranoid ethos - and unable to get its shit together.
1.483 trillion GDP in US dollars... less than the state of Texas (pop 29 million) and about 1/2 that of California.
Would I willingly suffer economically to keep Ukraine out of Putin's hands? You bet! He's a smart mob boss no doubt - but he's not
good for Russia.