WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) joined Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) in introducing bipartisan legislation imposing sanctions on those involved in Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would carry natural gas from Russia to Germany.

The bill imposes targeted sanctions against vessels that would be used to construct deep sea pipelines for Russian energy export projects including Nord Stream 2.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin uses Russia’s natural gas to extort and threaten our allies and our partners. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline would only make them more susceptible to Russia’s coercion and undermine European energy security,” said Barrasso. “I’m proud to join Senators Cruz, Shaheen and Cotton in introducing bipartisan legislation that puts into place tough sanctions aimed at ending construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The United States must use all of the tools at our disposal to stop this pipeline and eliminate Russia’s geopolitical weapon.”

Background

Some of America’s European allies are increasingly dependent on Russian gas. Russia continues to undermine peace and security in Europe through a variety of mechanisms, including its use of energy as a geopolitical weapon.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would carry natural gas from Russia to Germany, would make Europe more reliant on Russian gas by undermining the diversification of Europe’s energy sources, supplies and routes.

On March 15, 2018, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) led a bipartisan group of 39 senators in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Department of State expressing opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The letter expressed their commitment to working with the administration on additional measures to ensure that Nord Stream 2 is never built, and that our European allies and partners can gain secure and lasting energy independence.

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