MPs fear ‘blackmail’ over new gas pipeline to Germany
BORIS JOHNSON is being urged to join Britain’s European allies opposing an attempt by Russia to boost the country’s “economic influence” over the continent with a new pipeline transporting gas directly to Germany.
A coalition of MPs, including Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, have told the Foreign Secretary that the pipeline will leave Eastern European and Baltic countries open to “blackmail and interference”.
The MPs highlight fears raised by countries such as Poland and Ukraine that the route would threaten the continent’s “energy security and stability”.
Critics of the pipeline fear it will increase dependence on Russian energy and allow the Kremlin to scale back its reliance on an existing pipeline running through Ukraine, depriving the country of lucrative transit fees. In their letter to Mr Johnson, the MPs state: “We are writing… to highlight a key threat to the security of our strategic allies in Central Europe and the Baltic States. Energy and defence security are being put at risk by Germany’s determination to build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The pipeline will directly link Germany with Russia across the Baltic Sea, while bypassing our Central European allies and opening them up to blackmail and interference.”
They add: “We are sure you can appreciate during these times of rising tensions with Russia the absolute necessity for the UK to guarantee the sovereignty and general security of the UK’s key Nato partners
“With the Kremlin holding a controlling stake in Gazprom, it is very easy to see how the new pipeline will consolidate Russian economic influence over Europe, while causing conflict between European nations and holding them hostage.” Army