Lithuanian Foreign Minister doubts possibility of resuming Nord Stream 2 operation
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys (Photo: Getty Images)
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys does not see the possibility of restoring the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. In his view, the project was a major geopolitical mistake, and under current conditions, European countries are not considering repeating it, according to Delfi.
The Lithuanian minister made this statement while commenting on media reports that the US, under the influence of Russian lobbyists, may be preparing to resume the operation of the pipeline.
"The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is physically difficult to restore, and politically, it is already buried. I really find it hard to imagine that anyone in Europe could consider such interaction with Russia, bypassing other countries. This was a major geopolitical mistake," Budrys said.
He recalled that Lithuania, even during the development of the Nord Stream 2 project, worked to distance itself from Russian energy resources and called on countries to diversify their gas supply sources to the EU.
"Great harm was done by creating the hope on both sides that mutual trade could change the very nature of the Russian regime. We saw that this did not materialize, so now trying to revive it — I cannot imagine what arguments this should be based," the Lithuanian Foreign Minister emphasized.
Additionally, according to him, the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by tankers has replaced outdated pipelines, and the United States is now the world's leading exporter of these resources, making it the key country to engage in negotiations.
Revival of Nord Stream 2
The construction of Nord Stream 2 began in 2018. It aimed to ensure the annual transmission of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas directly from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. However, it is currently not operational.
Recently, the Financial Times reported that a project to restart the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Europe is being developed with the support of American investors. This initiative, as noted, could affect relations between the US and Russia amid ongoing geopolitical changes.
