Unpacking the German Debate on Nord Stream 2

Abstract

The planned Nord Stream 2 (NS2) gas pipeline connecting Germany and Russia is a controversial issue in German political discourse. Even though criticism of the climate impact and security implications of proceeding with Nord Stream 2 tend to dominate the debate, vested interests in government and business have so far successfully defended the project. The poisoning of Alexei Navalny has not led the German government to block the pipeline. However, the case had a substantial discursive impact in Germany, as it made the media more sensitive to Ukraine's security interests and to climate policy considerations. On the latter point, two controversies in early 2021 serve as cases in point: first, the revelation concerning the German government’s offer to import LNG from the US on preferential terms if the US would repeal sanctions; and second, the public outcry over Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's controversial state "Climate Foundation," which has been accused of greenwashing the pipeline. Looking ahead, this article holds that Russia and Germany need to look beyond Nord Stream 2 to the hydrogen trade as a potential point of common interest, at least in a world where Russian troops have left Ukraine.