No, France and Germany Haven’t Fallen Out
Despite the appearance of a rift, Macron and Merkel have reached a compromise on the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
In the Baltic Sea, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is being laid.
Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesFrance and Germany’s recent cooperation agreement – in which the two nations promised to form join positions on all important European matters – appears to have withstood a difficult early test. The two powers have forged a compromise over the contentious issue of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.
The connection, which will run from Ust-Luga in Russia to Greifswald in Germany, has many enemies: Among them are Ukraine, whose pipelines will be bypassed, and Poland and other Eastern European countries opposed to the increased leverage over the region Russia will gain from the project. The U.S., too, is wary of Europe’s dependence on Russian supplies; it would rather the bloc relied on U.S. liquefied natural gas instead.