Biden raises concerns about Nord Stream 2 to Merkel, warning Russia not to weaponize energy

Combo photo of U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Xinhua)

"I reiterated my concerns about Nord Stream 2," President Joe Biden said, adding that "Merkel and I are absolutely united in our conviction that Russia must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon to coerce or threaten its neighbors."

WASHINGTON, July 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday raised his concerns to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, warning Russia not to weaponize the energy.

The 1,230-km gas pipeline, which is expected to be completed next month, would bring natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea.

"I reiterated my concerns about Nord Stream 2," Biden told reporters at a press conference after their meeting, adding that "Merkel and I are absolutely united in our conviction that Russia must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon to coerce or threaten its neighbors."

The United States has long claimed that the project was a geopolitical maneuver by Russia that will undermine Ukraine's role in transiting energy to Europe. Germany and Russia pointed out that the project is purely commercial.

The United States and Germany have different assessments regarding the Nord Stream 2, Merkel said at the conference, while stressing both agree that Ukraine will remain a transit country for natural gas.

"We will be actively acting should Russia not respect this right of Ukraine that it as a transit country," She added via translation. "The Nord Stream 2 is an additional project and certainly not a project to replace any kind of transit through Ukraine."

Picture taken on Oct. 8, 2012 shows Nord Stream pipeline equipments before the opening ceremony of the North Stream second gas link in Portovaya bay, near the town of Vyborg in northwestern Russia. (Xinhua)

Citing the importance of relations with Germany and the difficulty to stop the nearly completed pipeline, the Biden administration in May waived sanctions against a company behind the pipeline project and its German CEO, which led to opposition from bipartisan lawmakers.

"By the time I became president, it was 90% completed, and imposing sanctions did not seem to make any sense," Biden said on Thursday. He noted the two allies instead will look at practical measures to ensure European energy security will not be weakened by Russian actions.

The two leaders also covered topics such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Iran nuclear issue.

Biden expressed condolences to Merkel for loss of life due to the flooding in Germany, which had left 58 people dead and dozens missing.

Merkel is the first European leader to visit the White House since Biden took office. The visit was widely seen as Biden's efforts to restore the relationship between Washington and Berlin, which had been damaged by his predecessor Donald Trump.

It is likely Merkel's last official trip to Washington as she will step down following the September election after 16 years in office.