During a recent interview with conservative journalist Tucker Carlson, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump asserted that he was instrumental in stopping the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a project intended to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany. Trump, addressing a large crowd in Glendale, Arizona, strongly rejected accusations that he was a Russian sympathizer, labeling those who promote such claims as “sick.” He characterized Nord Stream 2 as a crucial asset for Russia and proclaimed, “I killed it. Nobody would kill it but me,” emphasizing that the project was significantly impaired during his presidency. He went on to critique current President Joe Biden for allowing the continuation of pipeline construction, contrasting it with Biden’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, which was designed to transport oil from Canada to the United States.
Trump’s critique also extended to Germany’s reliance on Russia for energy, arguing that it was illogical for Germany to pay billions to Russia for oil while simultaneously receiving security assurances from the U.S. He recounted conversations with German officials during his presidency, pressing them to reconsider their energy ties with Russia, asserting, “I say: ‘Let’s get this straight. We’re helping and guarding you from Russia, but you are paying Russia billions of dollars a month for oil.’” His claims were met with skepticism in the political arena, as the narrative of Trump’s alleged closeness to Russia has persisted despite his assertions to the contrary.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, completed in 2021, was met with controversy due to concerns over Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. The pipeline aimed to supplement the existing Nord Stream 1 but faced backlash, particularly from the Trump administration, which imposed sanctions against it as a means of discouraging further investment in Russian energy. Following Trump’s tenure, President Biden adopted a somewhat different approach, waiving some of the earlier sanctions in 2021, asserting that such measures were “counterproductive for European relations.”
However, the geopolitical landscape shifted dramatically following the 2022 escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Just days before this escalation, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suspended the certification of Nord Stream 2 after Russia recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. This pivotal moment underscored the pipeline’s vulnerability under evolving political tensions and was a significant moment in the broader narrative surrounding European energy security.
The situation took a turn later in September 2022 when the pipeline was damaged by a series of underwater explosions, leading to substantial leaks in its infrastructure. Speculation about the nature of the attack arose, with reports suggesting possible involvement from Ukrainian intelligence. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected these assertions, implying that the U.S. had the most to gain from the sabotage, an accusation that highlighted the intricate web of geopolitical tension surrounding the pipeline.
In the aftermath of the explosions, various narratives emerged regarding the operational status of the pipeline. Putin claimed that one string of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline remained functional, yet Germany has refrained from utilizing it due to the political ramifications of the situation. This underscores the complex interplay of energy politics in Europe, particularly as the region grapples with balancing dependence on Russian energy and the imperatives of national security and political solidarity among Western allies.
