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Capital investment: The United States can attract European businesses to projects with Russia
The United States is able to attract European capital to joint projects with Russia, Robert Agee, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, told Izvestia. One of these projects could theoretically be the resumption of Nord Stream operations. According to some reports, investors from the United States are interested in him. The Alternative for Germany party stressed that Washington's participation would provide reliable guarantees of European energy security and protect infrastructure from new sabotage. However, even with the mutual interest of business, full-fledged cooperation is hampered by the tough EU sanctions policy, but it may change as the opposition strengthens.
Who is interested in Nord Streams
The United States admits that Russian-American energy projects may encourage European investors to cooperate.
"Given the close economic and political ties of the United States with Western European countries, the continuing general interdependence of world trade, as well as the interests of businesses in these countries, we do not rule out that the launch of new American—Russian projects will serve as an impetus for the involvement of countries such as Germany and Denmark," the president and chief executive Officer told Izvestia. Robert Agee, Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
As reported by Reuters, senior representatives of Russia and the United States held talks in October on attracting American investors to the Nord Stream gas pipeline project. According to the agency, American businessman Jared Kushner and Kirill Dmitriev, Special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for investment and economic cooperation, participated in the discussion. Speaking at the Russian Energy Week, Dmitriev noted that Moscow and Washington are considering a number of joint initiatives, primarily in the field of energy and data centers, and announced the imminent announcement of new projects.
In Germany, Alternative for Germany, the most popular political force in Germany, is actively advocating the restoration of Nord Streams. The party recently won victories in the federal states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg—Vorpommern. It is through this area that gas pipelines pass through the Baltic Sea.
— In the current situation, the patronage of the United States serves as a guarantee of security. Other states would never attack the infrastructure in which American shareholders participate, since the United States acts decisively and unambiguously when their interests are affected," Steffen Kotre, a member of the Bundestag Committee on Economics and Energy from the AFD, told Izvestia.
At the same time, Bundestag deputy from the AFD Markus Fronmaier recalled that the German government does not support the resumption of the Nord Streams. Thus, Berlin politically completes what the saboteurs wanted: the most important energy and economic artery for the country remains blocked.
"If in the end the Americans and the Russians come to an agreement among themselves, and Germany is forced to pay the American operator for Russian gas, then Germany will ultimately be left with nothing," the German parliamentarian believes.
The AFD is firmly convinced that Ukrainian government structures are behind the bombing. That is why it is time for Berlin to stop supporting Kiev, because its actions directly threaten the energy security of the whole of Europe.
European investors will be able to join the projects only if these steps are approved by the authorities of the EU and the member states of the association, political analyst Mikhail Kucherov told Izvestia. However, there is now a consensus among the elites of the most influential countries (including Germany, France and the United Kingdom as a key partner of the EU) to abandon Russian energy resources.
And even the lobbying capabilities of German business specifically are not great enough to put pressure on political elites on the issue of sanctions — this is not so much German policy as pan-European, emphasizes Maria Khorolskaya, researcher at IMEMO RAS. In any case, all this is possible, most likely, only after the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, she concluded.
Will the Europeans follow the US
In the meantime, pragmatic considerations are guided only by the White House. On October 9, the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States agreed to supply Russia with more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the American and global markets. Trump noted that another 500,000 tons will be delivered in November, and another 1 million tons after that. In the future, according to Trump, Moscow, depending on the situation, may additionally export 3 million tons of diesel fuel.
Washington is obviously guided primarily by its own interests, sometimes demonstrating ultimatum pragmatism, especially before the most important congressional elections. Donald Trump's rating has dropped to its lowest level, not least because of soaring prices at American gas stations, and the Democrats have a real chance not only to seize the majority in the House of Representatives, but even to ensure control over the entire Congress.
— Any projects that are beneficial primarily from an economic point of view for businesses on both sides will contribute to warming relations between the United States and Russia. The current state of relations, caused especially by the sanctions regime, causes direct damage to both American and Russian companies, while the business of third countries most often remains the winner," said Robert Agee.
Diesel from Russia will enter the American markets 15-20 days after the signing of contracts, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said. In addition, Trump signed a decree waiving the application of a number of provisions of the law on "hellish sanctions" against Russia. In particular, the introduction of additional duties of 500% on Russian goods and 100% on products from countries that are among the five main buyers of Russian oil and gas has been postponed.
While Washington is returning to protecting its own economic interests, Berlin stubbornly clings to sanctions and confrontation, says Markus Fronmaier. His colleague Steffen Cotre agrees: it is vital for Germany to regain sovereignty, clearly formulate its national priorities and begin to defend them. In the meantime, European countries, led by Germany, are protecting exclusively Ukrainian interests. This is done at the expense of their own citizens, whose taxes go to finance the military-industrial complex, which has become virtually common to Europe.
"Further military confrontation with Russia gives them a convenient scapegoat to blame for the collapse of their own economies — a collapse that, in fact, has little to do with Russia, but is much more due to their own policies in the fields of energy, migration and industry," former MEP Gunnar Beck told Izvestia.
The main allies of business in this issue should be voters who vote for parties that are ready to restore relations with Moscow, says political analyst Mikhail Kucherov. Beck also stresses that Europe needs serious political changes, such as the rise to power of right—wing forces in France or Germany.
Now the systemic mainstream is blocking their initiatives in every possible way. However, the situation may change: by the end of 2027, elections will be held in four of the five largest EU countries — Spain, France, Poland and Italy. Their results are quite capable of correcting the course of the entire European union.
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