Russia’s Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline project poses a security threat to both the U.S. and Poland, President Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda said in a joint statement signed after meeting at the White House on Tuesday.
The two leaders pledged to counter the pipeline, or any other Russian energy projects, that “threaten our mutual security,” read the statement released by the White House.
They also pledged to work on increasing the amount of liquefied natural gas imports that Poland receives to enhance energy security, while also working on nuclear energy development.
Earlier on Tuesday, the leaders discussed how U.S. exports of natural gas will be used as a hedge against Russia’s influence in Central Europe.
“Both Poland and the United States will support expanded efforts to enhance energy cooperation and diversification, including nuclear energy,” read to the statement.
“We will explore new opportunities stemming from the transformation of energy markets and we will work to ensure better energy diversification of Europe, in which private enterprise should play a key role,” the joint statement said.
The two countries also committed to establish the “U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue on Energy,” which Trump said earlier Tuesday will be a high-level collaboration focused on energy security.
“Our two nations will continue to support governmental exchanges on energy issues to advance bilateral cooperation and reach a common view on matters of vital interest to both countries,” according to the statement.
Earlier on Tuesday, Duda said he and Trump discussed the Russian threat in detail. “Without any doubt, the biggest threat right now is posed by the construction of Nord Stream II gas pipeline,” the Polish leader said.
“This threat of absolute Russian domination in Europe, in terms of gas deliveries, is obvious,” he said. “What are the results of such a domination, ladies and gentlemen? We were able to see that ourselves a couple of years ago in Ukraine.”
He said in Ukraine, Russia turned off the gas supply, which had nothing to do with economic factors but was “political blackmail.”
Duda said Germany has already “unfortunately” moved forward to begin constructing the Nord Stream II pipeline into Europe.
“There is a threat of Russian energy domination, especially when Russia mentions that it’s going to build more pipelines — Nord Stream III, Nord Stream IV,” Duda added.
The investment, “without any doubt, threatens energy stability of Europe,” he said. “And without any doubt, it also threatens Polish energy security, because it is a threat.”
