FRANKFURT: If Russia invades Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has vowed to shut down the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.
The undersea pipeline, which runs through Germany and connects Russia to Europe, is complete but not yet operational. As Western countries try to discourage a Russian strike on its neighbour, it has become a significant target.
It has previously caused friction between the United States, which opposed the project, and Germany. At a press conference with Biden in Washington, Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated all alternatives were on the table, although he avoided addressing Nord Stream 2.
"There will be no Nord Stream 2 if Russian tanks roll into Ukraine," Biden declared on Monday. Scholz emphasised the importance of maintaining some ambiguity about sanctions in order to pressure Russia to deescalate.
Here are some crucial points to remember about the pipeline:
WHAT IS NORD STREAM 2?
A 1,230-kilometer (764-mile) natural gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany's Baltic coast runs beneath the Baltic Sea.
It would increase the capacity of an older Nord Stream pipeline to 110 billion cubic metres of gas a year and sidesteps Ukraine and Poland, who would forfeit transit fees. They further claimed that the initiative will give Russia more clout in Europe.
The pipeline has been loaded with gas, but it is not yet operational due to clearance from German utility regulators and the European Commission.
WHY DOES RUSSIA WANT THE PIPELINE?
Producer owned by the state Gazprom claims that the project will meet Europe's growing demand for affordable natural gas while also complementing existing pipelines in Belarus and Ukraine.
The majority of Europe's gas is imported, with roughly 40% coming from Russia. Nord Stream 2 would provide an alternative to Ukraine's outdated pipeline, save costs by avoiding transit fees paid to Ukraine and Poland, and avoid episodes like the brief gas cuts that occurred in 2006 and 2009 due to price and payment disagreements between Russia and Ukraine.
WHY IS BIDEN AGAINST IT?
The project has been opposed by the US, European NATO members such as Poland, and Ukraine since before the Biden administration. They claimed that it allows Russia to use gas as a geopolitical weapon.
When the pipeline was almost finished, Biden agreed to lift sanctions against the project's operator in exchange for Germany agreeing to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine. However, the United States continues to believe that Nord Stream 2 is a bad idea.
Scholz, who became Germany's chancellor in December, approved the initiative as Angela Merkel's finance minister, and his Social Democratic Party embraced it as well.
While Scholz has avoided particularly mentioning Nord Stream 2, he has stated that Russia would pay "severe consequences" and that sanctions must be prepared ahead of time.
HOW WOULD BIDEN BLOCK NORD STREAM 2?
The US could levy harsh financial sanctions against anyone or any firm that transacts business with the pipeline, thereby frightening off banks and businesses and rendering the pipeline unusable.
Biden hasn't said if that's the route he might pursue. Asked Monday how the US would stop something that's under German control, Biden only said, "I promise you, we'll be able to do it." School added, "You can be sure that there won’t be any measures in which we have a differing approach. We will act together jointly."
Republicans and Democrats in Congress, in a rare show of bipartisanship, have long opposed Nord Stream because of the power it gives Russia over Europe. For months, they've been split on whether to sanction Nord Stream 2 now or only if Russia invades. Supporters of the bill have declined to specify what kind of compromise they're working on.
The licencing process in Germany has been characterised as solely a legal decision, not a political one, raising concerns about what mechanism would be employed if Russia launched an attack. Sanctions on Russia for seizing Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 were agreed upon at the European Union level in Europe.
WILL NORD STREAM 2 HELP EUROPE'S NATURAL GAS CRISIS?
Not right away or directly. The pipeline will not be able to meet heating and energy needs this winter since authorities will not approve it for months. The continent is now experiencing a gas crisis. Gazprom could choose to transport more gas through existing pipelines if it so desired.
Concerns regarding Russia and gas have increased as a result of the winter crisis. Russia. President Vladimir Putin has stated that the scarcity emphasises the importance of approving Nord Stream 2 as soon as possible. Even while it fulfilled long-term contracts with European clients and failed to fill its - subterranean storage in Europe - Russia resisted short-term gas sales.
According to some analysts, Russia needed to replenish its own winter stockpiles first, and Gazprom has emphasised its role as a long-term provider. Putin's words, whatever their reason, did little to assuage fears that Russia is willing to use gas as a political weapon.
IS RUSSIA THE BOSS ON GAS?
That's an oversimplification. While Europe requires Russian gas, Gazprom relies on European sales to help fund Russian government budgets. In recent years, the European Union has been able to compel Gazprom to follow many of its anti-monopoly laws.
Because of this reliance, many people believe Russia will not turn off gas to Europe even if the war in Ukraine escalates, and Russian authorities have stated that they have no plans to do so.