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| ‘Nortstream 2’gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany. © Reuters = News 1 |
There is a rift between Germany and France, which is a key partner of the European Union (EU) and seven major countries (G7), with Alexey Navalni, the opposition leader, who is considered to be the static of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In protest of Navalni’s detention, France urged to stop the construction of the undersea gas pipeline’Nortstream 2′, which directly connects Russia and Germany, but Germany ignores this.
According to the AFP news agency, Clement Bonn, the European Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, said in an interview with French Enter Radio on the 1st (local time) that he urged Germany to stop the construction of the Nordstream II.
The Nordstream 2 construction project, which has been promoted since 2015, is a project that transports natural gas directly from northern Russia via the Baltic Sea to Germany.It was suspended due to US sanctions for the past year, but resumed in December of last year and has been 90% to date. This is done.
The Minister said that, as the gas pipeline is connected to Germany, it is “a decision that Germany has to make,” but it has clearly conveyed to Germany that the construction project for Northstream 2 should be stopped.
However, Germany is in a position to continue the project despite international public opinion condemning Navalni’s detention.
According to the AFP, Prime Minister Steffen Seibert Angela Merkel dismissed a question about France’s urging, saying, “The government supported Nordstream 2 and did not change its default position.”
If construction proceeds smoothly as it is, Nordstream 2 is expected to be completed within this year.
Meanwhile, protests were held across Russia last weekend calling for the release of Navalni for the second consecutive week, and the police forcefully suppressed the arrests of more than 5,000 people, including reporters as well as the protesters. Accordingly, France’s demand to stop the Nordstream 2 business is expected to gain further strength.