Photo: AP.
The German edition of the Süddeutsche Zeitung has published an article saying that Germany is in a difficult situation due to the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. The author of the controversial article, Stefan Cornelius, believes that with the help of this pipeline, Russian President Vladimir Putin is striving to divide the EU and Germany is the first target. It is clear that Russia needs German money and Germany needs Russian gas. However, Cornelius believes that the new German authorities may freeze the project despite Russia, in the interests of Ukraine and in the interests of Germany itself.
The article concludes that Germany has become energy dependent on Russia, which is called the country's “big foreign policy problem.” At the same time, the author says that this problem arose during the Cold War and its importance has always diminished.
However, Cornelius says that the argument that Germany and Russia need each other as buyers and suppliers is only partially true. Russia is willing to pay a high price for this dependence on Germany to promote other interests, he said. And if Germany is thinking about winter, then Putin is thinking in strategic categories, and gas revenues are secondary to him.
According to the author, Russia is isolating itself from EU countries that have become dependent on energy, thus depriving the European Union of its main weapon – economic cohesion. Therefore, the author believes that the main goal of this Russian policy of destabilization is Germany, which has the greatest influence in Europe. Cornelius notes that Putin has promised that the gas shortage in the European market will come to an end once it has been launched. Nord Stream-2 pipeline. The author of the article considers this to be almost blackmail and urges us not to be subject to it.
“The commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was and remains the most important political decision that the previous federal government will inherit next,” the observer writes, adding that the decision was postponed for too long. In this context, Cornelius calls on the new German authorities not to succumb to blackmail and to make a single decision: to separate the gas owner and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline operator, seek alternative supplies and strictly demand performance of the contract, and be prepared to decide to freeze the pipeline. “Not only is Ukraine becoming vulnerable due to Russia's gas policy, but Germany may be deadly dependent,” warns Cornelius.