A close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a stark warning to the United States about the risks of placing "America First," accusing Washington of seeking to block a planned Russia-Germany gas pipeline to shore up its own exports.
Economy minister Peter Altmaier defended the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is strongly opposed by many East European countries as well as the U.S., who say that by circumventing Ukraine the pipeline will increase Russia's leverage over countries that rely on Moscow's energy sales.
Ahead of a summit due later on Friday between Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Altmaier said the European Union should guarantee that Ukraine will continue to receive gas transit fees, even after the pipeline is built under the Baltic.
But he accused Washington of wanting to block the pipeline, built by Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom and a consortium of European energy companies, in order to boost its own shale gas exports.
"They are looking for markets, which we can understand, and they can land it here easily," he said. "But it is much more expensive than pipeline gas, so blocking Nord Stream 2 on its own won't guarantee exports."
He added that Europe would respond firmly to U.S. attempts to place its own economic interests before those of partners. "The U.S. are our friends and partners, and we want to defend our common values.
"But if it's America first, and they put their economic interest before others, then they have to expect Europe to define their own interests and fight for them."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
