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A top official with the U.S. State Department says the Trump administration continues to oppose the construction of a pipeline that would increase Russian supplies of natural gas into Europe.
Called Nordstream 2. the project has aroused criticism that it would deepen Europe`s dependence on Russian energy supplies. leaving the European Union vulnerable to manipulation by Moscow.
`We view Nordstream 2 as a project that would cement in place for generations the same vulnerability many Central European and Balkan states` experience now.` Sandra Oudkirk. deputy assistant secretary for energy diplomacy at the State Department. said Monday during an event at the Atlantic Council. a Washington think tank. `The president has spoken pretty clearly.`
That would continue the position of the former Obama administration. which sought to expand U.S. supplies of Liquefied natural gas into Europe as a buffer to Russian influence. Likewise. Trump has discussed increasing LNG exports as a pillar of his plans to increase American `energy dominance.`
`It`s a bipartisan view. It`s crossed administrations.` Oudkirk said of opposition to Nordstream 2. `Because it has such a potentially large impact on some of our most important allies and partners. it has an impact on our national security as well.`
Financing the more than 700-mile pipeline. which would run under the Baltic Sea to Germany. are Royal Dutch Shell. German energy groups Uniper and Wintershall. Austria`s OMV and France`s Engie.
The pipeline would carry 55 billion cubic feet of gas a year from Russia to Europe.
