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[Update adds new U.S. govt opposing pipeline + Russia vows to complete project]

The U.S. informed the German government that it is today (19 January) on the Russian pipe-laying vessel Fortuna over its involvement in the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, reports. 鈥淲e note this with regret,鈥� a spokesperson from the German economy ministry . Until now, there have only been threats of a sanction. Handelsblatt writes that it is unclear whether the sanctions on the Russian vessel would have any effect on its involvement in Nord Stream 2, as the Russian government has tried to make its companies largely 鈥渋mmune鈥� to such sanctions. The U.S. embassy in Berlin told the newspaper that it hopes 鈥淕ermany will rethink its position鈥� on the project and that it will continue to take 鈥渁ll necessary and appropriate steps鈥� to stop the pipeline project. The new U.S. administration is unlikely to change course after Joe Biden's inauguration as President. Antony Blinken, Biden鈥檚 nominee to be secretary of state, told his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that Biden strongly agrees with members of Congress that the pipeline is a bad idea, . Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he had not discussed the issue at length yet with Biden, but the administration will use 鈥渆very persuasive tool鈥� available to persuade countries including Germany.
Deutsche Welle that despite the sanctions Russia was still planning "to continue the works for the completion of this project", according to聽government spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Sascha M眉ller-Kraenner, managing director of NGO Environmental Action Germany (DUH), said that while extraterritorial sanctions are 鈥減roblematic,鈥� the construction of Nord Stream 2 is wrong. 鈥淭his project serves only the geopolitical interests of Russia and destroys the climate,鈥� .

Bild Zeitung that leading industrial services provider Bilfinger was the first German company to withdraw from Nord Stream 2 due to the sanction threats by the U.S. Bild wrote the company had notified the U.S. in December 2020 already. Bilfinger in 2017 for development, delivery and commissioning of the process control and monitoring systems for operation of the pipeline.

Construction was halted in December 2019 after the U.S. enacted a sanctions bill affecting companies working on the pipeline. The project has been contested since the early planning stages. Proponents argue the pipeline is a commercial investment that is key to Europe's supply security, while opponents criticise Nord Stream 2 on environmental, geopolitical and security grounds. Around 160 km of Nord Stream 2鈥檚 pipeline, most of which will be in Danish waters, still needs to be completed. Recent plans by a regional government in Germany to circumvent U.S. sanctions on companies involved by creating a 鈥渃limate鈥� foundation have been heavily criticised.