TurkStream: Russia’s Newest Gas Pipeline to Europe
Russia’s state-owned natural gas company Gazprom has long sought to protect its share of Europe’s natural gas market. Along with the controversial Nord Stream 2 project (see CRS In Focus IF11138, Nord Stream 2: A Fait Accompli?), Gazprom’s TurkStream project could strengthen Russia’s foothold in the European energy market, especially southern Europe. It also could cement Turkey’s status as a lead recipient of Russian gas, at a time of relatively strong Turkish-Russian relations. Opponents of the TurkStream project, including the Trump Administration and some Members of Congress, have expressed concern that the project could also help erode Ukraine’s transit role for natural gas.
In 2018, Gazprom supplied more than 40% of the EU’s natural gas imports and about 50% of Turkey’s. Many analysts maintain that Moscow could use its energy exports as leverage in countries that are dependent upon Russian natural gas. The United States, in turn, has long supported projects to diversify natural gas supplies to Europe and undercut Russia’s market dominance.
TurkStream: Russia’s Newest Gas Pipeline to Europe
Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline: Will Sanctions Stop It?
The Trump Administration and many Members of Congress have expressed opposition to Nord Stream 2, a Russianowned natural gas pipeline project that, if completed, will enable Germany to increase the amount of natural gas it imports directly from Russia via the Baltic Sea (see Figure 1). Reflecting concerns about European dependence on Russian energy, the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019 (PEESA), enacted as part of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA, P.L. 116-92, Title LXXV), establishes sanctions related to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Given sanctions-related delays, the pipeline currently is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020 or early 2021.
Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline: Will Sanctions Stop It?
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