Europe Wants to Banish Russian Gas. The U.S. May Have Other Plans. Trump will talk to Merz about it.

The NYT reports that “leaders in Berlin and Brussels have maneuvered in recent weeks to foreclose any possibility of new Russian gas imports, seeking a decisive break with the decades before Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when Europe’s reliance on cheap Russian energy gave the Kremlin a powerful point of leverage. When President Trump meets with Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, at the White House on Thursday, Mr. Merz will reiterate his opposition to using Nord Stream 2 if the issue comes up, Mr. Merz’s spokesman said this week.”

A US investor met German officials on May 6 to discuss the US’ interest in Nord Stream 2. The US interest is still present, as investment opportunity but also from a energy and geostrategic point of view. The US may gain control of parts of European energy markets and also have a leverage on Germany and other countries if the Nord Stream pipelines would pump again gas to Europe. Russia would be interested in a deal with the US, a step towards deescalation and, of course to earn foreign currency income.

Russia has the gas – and the US has the political power to make it flow to Europe. No doubt, with US involvement, it may be a provider peace of peace and stability in Europe.  But who is against it?

Of course, the current regime in Kiev is strictly against it. Other European leaders and the EU may as well oppose to the re-animation of Nord Stream – mostly out of strategic and economic self-interest, neglecting the energy needs of many European nations.

“Merz declared last week that Germany would do “everything we can” to ensure that Nord Stream 2 “cannot be put back into operation.” The European Union said last month it was considering sanctions to “dissuade any interest, and notably interest from investors, in pursuing any activity on Nord Stream.”

But Merz faces opposition to his policy in Germany. And Merz’ attitude may displease to the US Administration as well.

Chancellor Merz will have to face Donald Trump today on this matter. The NYT article already warns Merz of what will happen to him today.