German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet with US President Joe Biden

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with US President Joe Biden today at the White House to discuss tension between Russia and Ukraine and potential joint deterrence efforts.

Russia is gathering troops near the border with Ukraine, raising international alarm bells for a possible invasion. The US is threatening intensive sanctions if Russia does invade, but such action would pose significant challenges to American allies in Europe who are reliant on Russia for their energy needs. Germany is particularly vulnerable given the ongoing Nord Stream 2 project that will double the amount of gas flowing directly from Russia to Germany.

The United States has vowed Nord Stream 2 will not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine, but Germany is staunch in its resistance to energy sanctions, which could be economically devastating for Europe. Given the uncertainty of alternative energy sources fulfilling Europe’s needs in the immediate term, the US will likely have to follow Germany’s lead and move towards a more moderate stance against Russia. Although sanctions with energy considerations may not deter Russian aggression against Ukraine, they are much more feasible until Europe is able to diversify its energy sources.

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