Joe Biden and Germany’s leader discussed differences over a Russia-to-germany gas pipeline.
Visit to White House likely chancellor’s last
WASHINGTON — Welcoming Angela Merkel to the White House for a final time, President Joe Biden renewed his concerns to the German chancellor Thursday about a major, nearly complete Russia-to-germany gas pipeline but said they agreed Russia must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon.
The two discussed — though made no apparent headway — on differences over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline during a largely friendly farewell visit for Merkel as she nears the end of a political career that has spanned four American presidencies.
“On a personal note, I must tell you I will miss seeing you at our summits,” Biden said as he stood by Merkel at an afternoon White House press conference. “I truly will.”
Merkel showed her ease and familiarity with Biden, repeatedly referring to him as “Dear Joe.”
But their personal warmth notwithstanding, the U.s.-german relationship is entering new territory as Merkel, who is not seeking another term in September elections, nears her departure from office.
The United States has argued that the Nord Stream 2 project will threaten European energy security by increasing the continent’s reliance on Russian gas and allowing Russia to exert political pressure on Eastern and Central European nations, particularly Ukraine.
But Biden recently waived sanctions against German entities involved in the project, a move that angered many in Congress.
Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, in a letter to Biden on Thursday ahead of the leaders’ meeting raised concerns that the pipeline is already having an economic impact on U.S. ally Ukraine.
Merkel sought to downplay the differences and to stress that the pipeline was in addition to — not meant to displace — Ukrainian pipelines.
“Our idea is and remains that Ukraine remains a transit country for natural gas, that Ukraine just as any other country in the world has a right to territorial sovereignty,” Merkel said. She added that Germany stood ready to react to Moscow “should Russia not respect this right of Ukraine that it has as a transit country.”
Merkel also raised concerns about COVID-19 travel restrictions that prevent most Europeans from traveling to the United States.
Biden said that he had brought in the chief of his coronavirus task force to discuss the issue and that he expected to be able to offer a more definitive answer “within the next seven days” about when the restrictions might be eased.