On Monday, Germany became one of the first European countries to expel Russian diplomats in response to the alleged Russian poisoning of a former spy in British soil – doing so even before the United States had announced its unprecedented move to kick out 60 diplomats. On Tuesday, Berlin quietly gave authorization for a new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea which will increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas. In short, they say, it would hold Europe hostage to Russian gas blackmail. The United States wants to start exporting liquified natural gas (LNG) to new port facilities in Europe, particularly in the north. Nord Stream 2 represents a threat to that.

Source: Forbes March 29, 2018 10:32 UTC