The German - America relations are now at an absolute low and it will be interesting how things can return to normal.
Until 4 years ago Germany was US closest ally. As 2nd most powerful nation of the western block, the german american alliance was seen as crucial to solve many world conflicts and problems.
Since Trump this changed completly. The pipeline project Nordstream II now brings it into a formerly unknown level of hostility.
USA was the pipeline, which is completed by 97% to stop. USA claims it would make Germany dependend on russian gas. Which is not true, since Germany still would have evry option to buy from elswhere.
The fact is, USA wants to sell american LNG to Germany, which is 30% more expensive, must be liquified before transport with enormous energy consumption, shipped over the atlantic and needs also enormous energy consumption to be stored in Germany in special tanks. Getting gas from Russia through a pipeline is simply more cost effective and efficient.
Another factor is, that Germany doesnt really want depend on energy that could be cut off from Trump in his typical erratic behavior. In other words, USA under Trump are not seen as trustworthy enough to fullfill treaty obligations.
The biggest issue is, that it is absolute unacceptable for Germany to allow USA to hurt German freedom and souvereignity. It simply is not americas business with whome Germany makes energy deals with.
USA put sanctions against a swiss ship company that laid the pipes on the sea floor, which blocked finalisation of the construction. A russian ship now arrived here to complete the project and USA threatens now more sanctions, this time targeting even german officials and evry company involved in the project and it appears this threat was what crossed the red line.
Germany prepares to install the EU wide blocking statute, which means companies are banned to follow the american laws on European soil. On the same time Germany prepares EU counter sanctions to any american officials involved in this sanctions. This means US senators would be locked out of global payment systems, their assets frozen.
It is crucial for Germany to draw this red line, because if we follow through and bow the knee, we would be simply an american vasall. If you bend to blackmail once, you will be the eternal victim.
The strange effect this has in Germany is, that all parties, even the Greens unite behind the decission to completle the pipeline, no matter what. There was strong internal oppossition in the German government against the project. American blackmailing
changed that, since all parties from far right AfD to far left Die Linke unite behind it against an outside foe.
If you dont know it better you could think there are elements in the american government who follow Putins will.
The interesting thing is, how this will end. Because on this level its now a game of chicken. Germany can not stop the pipeline without losing face. So what we will most likely will see is a complete breakdown of relations or omehow both nations find a backdoor agreement, that the pipeline is completed and there will be solutions on other fields of disagreements.
Americanswho justify this entire thing i might remember one thing, would you accept that behavior yourself? if a foreign power tries to intervene in your internal matters? if you answer this with a no, then you know what your side should be.
