President Joe Biden insists that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will not be allowed to operate and pump gas to Germany if Russia decides to invade Ukraine.
During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Biden said, “If Russia invades — that means tanks or troops crossing — there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.”
That prompted a reporter to ask, “How will you do that, exactly? Since the project and control of the project is within Germany’s control?”
“I promise you we’ll be able to do it,” Biden responded.
Watch the video below:
BIDEN: "There will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 7, 2022
REPORTER: "How will you do that, exactly? Since the project and control of the project is within Germany's control?"
BIDEN: "I promise you we'll be able to do it." pic.twitter.com/xczO8eqhcS
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline will run gas from Russia straight to Germany, but it is currently awaiting approval before it can start pumping gas to Germany.
As the BBC notes, “The US fears the pipeline makes Europe much more dependent on Russian energy, handing significant power over Berlin and the EU to Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
Russia currently has roughly 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border, and there are concerns it is planning on invading the Eastern European nation.
Officials believe that sanctioning the pipeline and preventing it from operating would be a blow to Russia’s revenues, and they argue the threat of stopping it from operating is a significant piece of leverage to deter an invasion.
However, there is also concern that sanctioning the pipeline could lead Russia to retaliate with a measure such as shutting off gas pipelines to European nations.