Shaheen Statement on Nord Stream 2

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chair of the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation SFRC Subcommittee – issued the following statement regarding the U.S. State Department’s report on Nord Stream 2 that imposes sanctions on eight new entities but not the company overseeing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline:

“I’ve made it clear to the Biden administration from day one that every effort should be made to prevent completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. It threatens Ukraine’s economic security, undermines energy independence in the region and allows Russia to further spread its malign influence,” said Shaheen. “That’s why I worked in Congress to establish sanctions as a tool for the administration to stop construction on this pipeline and to hold Russia to account for its continued aggression against the U.S. and our allies. Though I’m encouraged the State Department will levy sanctions against eight additional entities, I’m disappointed the administration will not hold Nord Stream 2 AG to the same standard. Completion of this pipeline poses a threat to U.S. security interests and the stability of our partners in the region. The administration should uphold its commitment to Congress. Every option available to prevent its completion should be utilized.”

Shaheen co-authored Nord Stream 2-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. Shaheen and Menendez recently called on the Biden administration to advance the United States’ interests in Europe through a full diplomatic push to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.