EU nations, particularly Germany, were already interested in getting closer to Russia in their joint efforts to save the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran. Another issue driving them together is the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, connecting Russian natural gas supplies to Germany.
Europe in general, and Germany in particular, need that Russian natural gas. The US opposes the pipeline, however, for deliberately circumventing Ukrainian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin, visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that Russia will stand up to US attempts to block the project.
He’s not alone. German Economic Minister Peter Altmaier represented US opposition to the pipeline as “America first” policy attempting to secure US exports. He warned Europe would defend its own interests in the matter, even if they conflict with America’s.
US officials are downplaying the risk of a “trade war” with Germany over their disagreements, but have also said they expect German companies to obey US edicts. As these differences go from hypothetical policy issues to real, practical ones with economic implications, Germany may find its interests much more closely align with Russia’s, and ultimately conclude that they’d benefit from a more independent, less US-centric foreign policy.
Russia has every right to develop business arrangements with whatever countries they want without U.S. bullying and interference. “America First” is sounding more and more like “American Greed.”
Europe has no reason not to shift its allegiance from USA to Russia.
Maybe and maybe not.
Russian gas is so much closer and likely much cheaper .
US for well over 20 years has always been about Full Spectrum Dominance and in just the last 2-3 years alone the US has lost significant traction in the economic and military realms, with the rise of the Russian-Chinese pacts, Russia sending troops etc to defend Syria and gaining two bases there, and the new eurasian alliances coming into being….which now are starting to include the EU more closely than before and Nord-stream is part of that integration
The New Russian Chinese pact was made in Yugoslavia almost 20 years ago . When U.S. general Wesely Clark commanded all NATO forces and he issued orders to shoot the Russian soldiers because they will try to protect Orthodox Christian civilians . Close to this same time period a missile was accidently fired into the Chinese Embassy .Bill Clinton said it was accident . But China found out it was not a accident but rather on purpose . George Tenet told the U.S.Congress We picked out the Chinese Embassy for a target . Both China and Russia were humiliated in Yugoslavia and they have been sharing military secrets and working together ever since . They both have low budget defense programs But you can bet your bottom dollar it is more than good enough or Russia would have not cut their defense budget another 20 % this year .
There is no truth; so, no need for clergy to insist they have it. There is no and never had been wrong or right.
But there had been and there is now living, feeling, thinking; working together for survival and well being of each biota.
But since some millennia ago, working together for survival and well-being of each life, had been abandoned by clergy, ‘nobility’ and upheld by the ‘neo-nobility’.
Survival of the ‘fittest’ [so-called] is the only game in town. US [or its top classes] are now the fittest to say what must go on.
“…may find its interests much more closely align with Russia’s”?
The US beats Europe repeatedly with edicts and Germany may just wake up?
Wake me up when Europe gets a spine.
I know it’s a pipe dream, but it would be nice to have the world cooperate in breaking the U.S.A. back, and finally finishing with the US dollar.
I do not believe EU can change anything. In Germany, Social Demicrats— with the eorst electoral record in its history, has been restructured under Schulz. German version of neocons have taken over the party. With the powerfull behind the scenes backers, such decimated party manages to capture policy control in the ministries of finance, foreign policy and labor. Minister of defence — that creature belongs ideologically to Russophobes. Schultz then gets of the stage, but the power in Getmany has shifted to globalists. After long time of trying to avoid going down that path, Merkel is finally sidelined. She is the lamest of lame ducks, as the appearances are made of her being in chage. Macron, a product of a political 3-D rinter is now decimating labor in order to squeeze wealth upwards, and debt downwards. Financial bubble is maintained by the merry go round of central banks, US, Bank of England, Bank of Japan and EU central bank taking turns in quantitative easing. Trump is ordering Europe to stand in its economic feet, without privileges for EU products, and at the same time, buy more US arms in the name of contributing more. Europe, now under heavy globalist control in three key nations, will have no choice but to continue anti Russia line, increase poverty, squeeze middle classes, and find excuses in Trump. EU is also obligated to sinchrknize its foreign policy with NATO, which means US. As the Supreme Commander of NATO is always US general. So, the only way EU can change anything is to losen the union by eliminating rules binding EUto NATO. Can I see this happening through a joint effort? Ni, I cannot. I would like to be pleasantly surprised. But the games played are just that — games. Poland is poking at EU because it wants higher share of power. And Poland is alligned with US liberal-neocon rances of US politics, all anti Trump, but very much happy when he does things they approve of. France wants to be close to UK and US, in irder to extend its African possessions. Now withhAcrican countries dying from the accummulated IMF destruction are losing assets in fire sale loan collections — Sestern countries are picking up assets, but complaining about destitutes they created. Countries of Eastern Europe, except US vasals, have never deen the benefits of EU. Just the opposite — they have been pauperized. Bulgaria and Romania have lost population, and many are destitute. Hungary is charting its own course. Italy on the brink of bankruptcy. EU can change its fate by BEING FREE TO TRADE. And that means adopting Shanghai trade principles. And ditching Eu/NATO siamese twin joined at the hip syndrome. It is a tall krder. Thus, they are just running to Moscow beggjng Russia to give in to US on all fronts -/ or else big bad Donald will beat them up!
D.C. is so very arrogant! I hope the pipeline is built, more competition is a great thing.
“the us expects them to OBEY its edits”,really? thats a good enough reason not to.
You should have heard Putin . He asked if maybe Russia could join the NWO . They said yes . Putin than said lets discuss what the orders should be . They said NO the orders have already been decided . Evidently Satin himself is the only one that knows what the orders should be .
i don’t know what tabloid you read to get that from.
The nerve of America making the decision where Russia can route it’s pipeline.
Hubris beyond compare.
The notion always is, there won’t be a trade war with Germany because Germany will back down and do what we say. There won’t be a war with N Korea because we will threaten them into getting rid of their nuclear weapons even as the US upgrades its arsenal. There won’t be permanent military occupations of Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria because the US press secretary will call it something else and the corporate press will follow suit to maintain their access to the liars. We will continue torturing the english language to enable torturing people.
America’s massive power is consistently eroding, and eventually hubris has its limits. Nothing is certain but change, and that unsustainable situations end. The sooner the better, lets see what we can do.
I would not say our massive military power is eroding . Maybe we did not know what the NWO was . The NWO is where one power gives all the orders for the whole world . Trump says he does not want to do this . But it looks like he is still trying to issue orders for everyone in the world .
I do stand by that assertion, including military power but speaking of power in general. Brexit and now the nuclear deal mess mean Europe can’t be counted on to help us invade somewhere big like we used to. The dollar is getting less central to everything. Drone swarms and hypersonic missiles may be able to take out huge ships. Trump does still blast out edicts daily, but few take him seriously and obey.
Exports aren’t the US prime concern, imports are. They are going to be targeted no matter where Germans buy their heating and other fuels.