Nord Stream 2 in the mirror of German party discussions

Abstract

Russian-German energy relations, which have been continuing for over half a century, are an important component of bilateral interactions. Since the 1960s of the last century, Russia and Germany have been strengthening their cooperation, carrying out a large number of joint projects, setting up enterprises and building gas pipelines. In this article, the author examines the German internal political discussion around the construction of the transnational project Nord Stream 2, which, despite the initial approval of both sides, has repeatedly been the subject of controversy both in the internal and external political arena of Germany. The project was opposed not only by the Bundestag parties, referring to environmental problems and political contradictions, but also by European neighbors, as well as the United States of America, which have their own economic interests in the field of energy cooperation with Germany. The article presents an analysis of the discourse on this issue, based on the statements of the main politicians in Germany, party members at meetings of the Bundestag, as well as on information published in the German-language electronic media in the context of political pressure through the institutions of the European community and sanctions policy from the United States. The author comes to the conclusion that, despite the polarity of opinions on the construction of the gas pipeline, not only in internal political discussions, but also at the international level, Germany, while maintaining obligations to implement this project, is guided by its own political and economic doctrine and is able to make decisions, contrary to pressure from states with their own interests in this area of interaction.

Keywords:

Russia, Germany, energy cooperation, Nord Stream 2, pipeline, party discussions, political and economic interests