The U.S. President Donald Trump objected to the Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline to carry Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea prior to a working lunch with the heads of the Baltic States on Tuesday.
Trump met with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the White House to discuss energy and security issues.
'Germany hooks up a pipeline into Russia, where Germany is going to be paying billions of dollars for energy into Russia,' said Trump and added, 'And I’m saying, “What’s going on with that? How come Germany is paying vast amounts of money to Russia when they hook up a pipeline? That’s not right.'
In addition to the U.S., many European countries, including Denmark, Poland and Lithuania, are against the Nord Stream II claiming it will increase Russian influence on European energy markets.
In November 2017, the Danish Parliament approved a law that allows the country's authorities to prohibit the construction of Nord Stream II in Danish territorial waters.
The Russian authorities said earlier that they would find an alternative route in the case of Denmark's rejection of the existing route.
The Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline project plans to deliver Russian gas to Europe through the Baltic Sea with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year.
On March 27, the project received the permit for the construction and operation of the pipeline system in Germany.
The project is co-financed by five European companies, E.ON, Wintershall, Shell, OMV and Engie.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr