Donald Trump wants to force Germany to give up Nord Stream 2 and buy American liquefied gas instead. The federal government should wisely give in to pressure from the US president.
When Donald Trump asks something, it is usually selfish, inconsiderate and often wrong. However, it does happen that he asks for the right thing for the wrong reasons. This is the case with Nord Stream 2.
The US president wants Germany to get less gas from Russia and instead buy liquefied gas from the USA. To get this through, he wants to stop building Nord Stream 2. In addition, the US has even initiated sanctions. True, in the spirit of the mantra "America first", this is an attack on the sovereignty of both Germany and the EU. The fact that Europe is making itself even more dependent on Russia through the pipeline does not change anything in the tough self-interest.
Still, it would be wise to accommodate Trump here. For the federal government, this is a face-saving opportunity to get out of a project that was a mistake from the start. Because the pipeline should never have been built.
Nord Stream 2 increases the Kremlin's influence on Germany and divides Europe. President Vladimir Putin has used energy supplies as a weapon on several occasions. The state-owned company Gazprom is an instrument of power that the federal government cannot make any more effective.
Germany has to stand up to Putin – if only for self-interest. Putin's goal is to destabilize the West. Russia interferes in elections. Under Putin, the country has inexorably become more and more autocratic. Oppositionists are arrested or poisoned. Putin annexed Crimea and invaded Georgia. He protects the Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.
There is enough gas
Energy is where the West can particularly hurt Putin. Russia depends on the revenues from oil and gas sales. There is no better way of putting Putin under pressure.
None of this means freezing relations with Russia. It's about not buying more gas from there. Liquid gas from the USA is – despite fracking – one of the alternatives. Norway is another, North African country another. There is enough gas. It doesn't have to be Russian.
It goes without saying that Trump is pursuing US economic interests. But that doesn't change the fact that politically it would be a good move for Germany to buy less gas from Russia and more from other countries.
Should Germany purchase more US gas, a dispute will be settled that will strain relations between the two countries and the EU. In addition, the relationship between Trump and Putin is likely to cool noticeably. From a security policy and geostrategic point of view, this is desirable for Germany and the EU.
It is economically viable to do without Nord Stream 2. Politically, it is imperative to stop the project. Even if Trump is completely implausible not only in this matter: Defiance is the opposite of real independence.
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