Germany has no plans to relaunch Nord Stream – Wadephul
The German federal government has no plans to restart the Nord Stream gas pipelines, as Berlin does not intend to return to energy dependence on Russia.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on Tuesday, September 29, that Germany has no intention of relaunching the Nord Stream pipelines. Speaking to members of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, Wadephul emphasized that the federal government became overly dependent on Russia, a mistake that should not be repeated.
He also addressed concerns raised by the opposition right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party regarding the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies via the Nord Stream pipelines. Wadephul affirmed that Germany values good relations with Russia, but the current Russian government is in violation of international law and waging an aggressive war against Ukraine.
Consequently, Germany must prioritize its security not in cooperation with Russia, but against it, for now and likely for an extended period. Strengthening defense capabilities within NATO and the European Union is essential to ensure European security, Wadephul stressed. Notably, the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were disabled by explosions in the Baltic Sea on September 26, 2022, and the German government halted the certification process for Nord Stream 2 shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February of the same year.
The AfD party supports the resumption of Russian gas supplies, calling for the completion of the surviving Nord Stream 2 pipeline string and the repair of damaged sections.
Written by urgent.news from Ukrinform - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
