German documents reveal hidden role in Nord Stream 2 push

Diverging from official declarations, previously secret documents reveal German authorities' involvement in the pipeline's construction and their close cooperation with the company responsible. The newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on the matter, describing these revelations as a "chronicle of a historic mistake."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government consistently maintained that the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was a "private business venture." Now, evidence has surfaced showing how deeply involved the authorities were in this investment.

As "Süddeutsche Zeitung" recalls, by insisting on Nord Stream 2, Germany gained a reputation for being "blind to Russian aggression" or interested in a "lucrative business". The newly revealed papers confirm these allegations.

The newspaper accessed documents from the Ministry of Economy that were previously classified due to an ongoing court case. The papers show how persistently Merkel and her ministers, including later Chancellor Olaf Scholz, supported the project and pushed for progress in the contracts.

"Neither resistance from Eastern European countries, Brussels, or Washington, nor the vile actions of the Putin regime could change anything," emphasizes "SZ". Germany consciously made itself dependent on Russian gas imports.

On June 18, 2015, German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy Sigmar Gabriel learned about a new gas pipeline mostly owned by Russia's Gazprom. A note sent to the Vice Chancellor commented that this dependency made resistance to the investment possible. Gabriel proposed "informal talks" in Brussels.

At that time, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico protested against the project. In May 2016, officials advised Gabriel to reach out to Poland and Slovakia because "if the interests of these two countries are met, all resistance should disappear". Shortly afterward, Gabriel wrote to Fico, stating that Nord Stream 2 would turn Slovakia into a "gas hub."

The German Ministry of Economy also maintained close contacts with Matthias Warnig from the management of Nord Stream 2 AG. Warnig is a former Stasi agent and a friend of Putin.

The ministry did not give up even when many countries opposed NS2. Experts compiled a list of European countries that could threaten the project and planned talks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel planned to raise the pipeline issue during diplomatic meetings. "We are aware of the political dimension of this project and take our partners' concerns seriously, without engaging in discussions about preventing (this venture)," this note is found in the meeting notes with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło in April 2017.

New U.S. President Donald Trump wanted to halt the construction of the pipeline. His administration imposed sanctions on NS2 operators. At that time, Nord Stream 2 AG funded the creation of a climate and environmental foundation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northern Germany. The organization aimed to bypass U.S. sanctions and help complete the pipeline.

When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the sanctions were eased, and Nord Stream 2 AG avoided penalties.

"Already in June 2021, the Polish parliament drew attention to the deployment of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border and the threat of a serious military conflict on the EU's borders," emphasizes the German newspaper. The Sejm called for the immediate halt of the Nord Stream 2 construction, expressing solidarity with Ukraine and Central European countries threatened by Russian expansionism.

However, the German Ministry of Economy, despite having a translation of this resolution, did not react. At the beginning of September 2021, Nord Stream 2 was completed. Ultimately, it would not become operational. A few months later, Russia would conduct a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.