House Foreign Affairs Republicans Criticize Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Waiver
More than 20 House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans said they remain “deeply concerned” about the Biden administration's decision to waive sanctions against the company behind the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project (see 2105260019) and said they weren’t satisfied by the State Department’s justification. The lawmakers, including the committee’s top Republican, Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas, said the sanctions waiver contradicts the administration's “repeated public opposition” to the completion of the pipeline.
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“If, as you asserted during your confirmation hearing, you are serious about doing everything possible to stop the completion of Nord Stream 2, then we urge you to do just that,” the lawmakers said in a June 1 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We request that you immediately remove these ill-conceived U.S. national interest waivers and use the mandatory authorities Congress passed to target the insurance and certification companies participating in the project.”
While the committee members agreed with the State Department that “robust transatlantic relations are essential,” waiving the sanctions will hurt U.S. relations with Eastern European countries, including Ukraine, which have the “greatest security and economic concerns” about the pipeline. “[W]hile we also appreciate your decision to designate numerous additional Russian vessels and entities,” the lawmakers said, “failing to sanction the pipeline project’s insurer and its certifier further exposes the Administration’s unserious approach to imposing the mandatory sanctions Congress authorized to stop the pipeline once and for all.” A State Department spokesperson declined to comment.