Shaheen, Menendez Urge Biden Administration to Stop Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s (SFRC) Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are calling on the Biden Administration to advance United States’ interests in Europe through a full diplomatic push to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline (NS2).

In a letter commending the Biden Administration’s efforts to grow opposition to the NS2 project, the Senators specifically called on Secretary of State Blinken to accelerate the process of building new sanctions packages through the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act (PEESA) and the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Clarification Act (PEESCA). Construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is currently on track to be completed this year, granting Russia significant influence over Europe’s energy future while undermining Ukraine’s security and economy.

“The Trump Administration failed to permanently stop this pipeline, and for almost four years never used the sanctions tools available to do so, so we appreciate your leadership during this critical period as the pipeline is close to completion,” wrote the Senators, noting the Administration’s collaborative approach to date in consulting with the Foreign Relations Committee on its efforts. “We urge you to use all the tools available to stop the pipeline’s construction. We would also emphasize that PEESA and PEESCA sanctions are not simply an authority provided to the executive branch - they are mandated in law - and publicly available information suggests that further sanctions are warranted at this time.”

A copy of the letter can be found here. 

Shaheen co-authored Nord Stream II-related legislation designed to halt construction of the pipeline in order to preserve Europe’s energy independence and prevent Vladimir Putin from spreading the Kremlin’s malign influence throughout the region. This bipartisan bill mandated targeted sanctions on vessels involved in installing Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline. It was signed into law in 2019 as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Shaheen built on her work in the FY21 NDAA that became law by adding a provision that further clarifies those sanctions, which target companies working with the Russian vessels sent to complete the pipeline. The Senator’s previous bipartisan effort led to a freeze in the construction of the pipeline.

###