CNBC: Trump says he’s considering slapping sanctions on gas pipeline from Russia to Germany
* The controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline would increase flows of Russian natural gas to Germany.
* The U.S. and many European nations fear the pipeline would help Russia bypass infrastructure in Ukraine, allowing Moscow to use energy supplies as a weapon.
* Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., last month filed a bill that would impose sanctions on vessels used to build Nord Stream 2.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is still considering using sanctions to block a controversial pipeline that would increase natural gas flows from Russia to Germany.
“Well, we’re looking at it. People have a right to do what they want to do. I think it’s something that I’ve been looking at and I’ve been thinking about and I’m the one that brought up the pipeline problem,” Trump told reporters during an appearance with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
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WNU Editor: The German foreign minister goes to Iran on the weekend and tells the Iranians that Germany will help them circumvent U.S. sanctions. President Trump fires back .... threatening sanctions on German firms. My prediction .... Germany will respond by crying and labelling this threat as unjustified.
13 comments:
Today was a infliction point for Europe. President Trump sealed a growing and already deep security commitment with Poland at the expense of Germany both in security and culture. Selling F-35s to Poland means it will have a far superior airforce than Germany’s. A world first. Second the opening of visa free travel in the near future opens Poland to its vast diaspora in the USA to build economic and cultural bonds as the Germans have. Then of course sanctions on Germany. A mistake in my mind but a clear marker that the USA and Germany increasingly are not allies nor enemies but transactional nations. Unlike Poland and the USA. The icing was Trumps taking troops from Germany to go to Poland. A real insult.
...and a financial hit as well. Well said.
How long will we wait until we hear an elected member of congress declare the USA is criminally interfering in Germany's affairs. A "NATO Member" conspiring with declared Western enemies to thwart the lead nation and their major benefactor.
This gas pipeline is an insult to the US and a self-inflicted national liability on Germany. Doing this deal with Russia out of pure petulance/Trump hate. They are Old Europe
PEACE,
IN,
OUR,
TIME,
R,
...
Look where this is going. It’s a unheard of trip.
Sanctions on Turkey. Turkey dismissed from the F-35 industrial team.
Sanctions on Germany. Germany refusing to join the F-35 program.
The two biggest NATO members outside the USA are persona non grata to the USA.
SEA CHANGE.
My biggest concern is too many sanctions.
Anon, it is not sea change. The word you’re looking for is “Tough Love”.
Roger, I totally prefer sanctions over sorties and salvos. ;)
Changing alliances and partnerships is a constant in global affairs. Not sure this is a major event in history to get worked up about.
Good! I don't know what the f*ck Merkel was thinking when she aligned with Putin and buy oil from this guy. This only strengthens Russia. So, clearly, Merkel is already thinking about her "career" (pension) after leaving office. She - just like her predecessor - probably wants to work for gasprom later. It's a disgrace and she should be held responsible and for almost f*cking up the EU with her immigration plan that killed people and divided our nations. Again, that made Putin very happy, but Fred tells us that Trump is the Putin puppet. Oh, Fred. Good boy.
AGAIN: "HE MAY"
T. loves to toss out may, might, perhaps, will see
and then?
NATO is a scam...
so too your remark
This is a very risky move on the part of POTUS!! The Germans have made it clear that they have found a way to circumvent sanctions on Iran. IF this is accurate and I would estimate more likely than not that it is, they will have found a way to circumvent sanctions against any German oil companies. As such, the sanctions are not likely to be effective anyway and to make matters worse will only accelerate the loss of the US dollar as world reserve currency.
I have long believed the loss of the US dollar as world reserve currency to be inevitable and something we cannot prevent. With this in mind the goal would be or should be to work to ensure a "soft landing" as opposed to a "hard landing" when the inevitable does occur. Part of the way this would be done would be by negotiating with the major world powers in order to properly position ourselves for the transition. Sanctions against major countries like Germany and Russia would seem counterproductive IF such an analysis is correct and this were to be the goal.
The analysis in Germany may well be as follows: 1.)Russia is a major world power, has been for centuries, will continue to be for centuries for more, has had a huge influence on Asia and Europe for centuries, and will continue to exert a large influence for centuries more. 2.)In contrast, America has huge internal problems, its military is stretched almost to the breaking point while suffering from poor leadership and low morale, it has a vast array of very powerful external enemies arrayed against the likes of which have been seldom, if ever, seen in world history, and, as such, America is unlikely to wield much an influence in 5 to 10 years from now. Perhaps it has less time assuming it continues to exist at all. If this is the German analysis, the Russian pipeline makes sense and there is a good chance it is a sound one.
In this case, the Germans, Russians, and others are saying "make our day" with the sanctions. They've found a way to circumvent them, it will hasten the end of the US dollar's role as world reserve currency, and will provide them with casas belli to take even more extensive hostile actions against America.
From reading the article, I understand what POTUS is trying to do. From reading the comments adds additional thoughts. I think the thoughts of POTUS and his team are similar to some of the comments in this thread. If POTUS and his team misread this and the analysis I present is correct or closer to being correct, then all these actions accomplish is to dig us a deeper hole while strengthening adversaries.
As for Eastern European countries, very respectfully I don't think they can or will help us much. They have their own conflicts with Russia and others. They will happily use us as pawns in their power struggles. I'm not saying don't work with them where and when we have mutual interests. Do NOT trust them and definitely do NOT "marry them." We have a number of alliances that are like bad marriages. We do not need more like them.
I think I understand what POTUS is proposing and why he is proposing it. I'm not saying don't do it. If it is done, it needs to be understood that the proposed course of action is extremely risky and is fraught with danger. If followed through, I can only pray that I works out for us.
Sanctions and tariffs have their place but if over used can become very self destructive especially when used against historical allies. What Germany appears to be saying is and this, not necessarily to the USA but to the blusteringly inept Trump, stick it. Unfortunately if Trump persists it will be the USA that loses.
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