Germany: Nord Stream 2 talks planned with Biden administration officials

Germany’s foreign minister said Tuesday that Berlin and Washington are holding talks to find a solution to the disagreement over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

“As you know, talks are currently being held between the German government and the administration in Washington,” Heiko Maas told reporters, according to Reuters.

“This will be the topic of the talks in Washington,” Maas added. “I am confident that we will succeed in finding a way, even though it will certainly not be easy and may not happen quickly.”

Germany’s Funke Media Group reported Monday that Chancellor Angela Merkel dispatched two of her top aides to Washington to establish a compromise on Nord Stream 2 before President Biden visits Europe in mid-June, according to Reuters.

Biden is set to meet with Merkel at the Group of Seven summit in the United Kingdom.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would provide parts of northern Germany with gas from Russia, has been under construction for several years.

It has, however, attracted criticism from European and American leaders who are concerned that it provides Russia with too much influence over energy policy in Western Europe.

Biden last month defended his administration’s decision not to sanction the energy pipeline, saying that the project is almost completed.

“It’s almost completely finished,” Biden told reporters. “To go ahead and impose sanctions now, I think is counter-productive in terms of our European relations.”