FP learned of Biden's attempts to avoid sanctions against Nord Stream 2

US President Joe Biden is negotiating with congressmen seeking to remove amendments from the defense budget that would imply sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Foreign Policy magazine reports.

Last week, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his aides called senators, urging them to remove the amendments against companies involved in the project, the newspaper writes.

According to aides, in this way the administration tried to prevent the imposition of restrictions on German companies. One of them clarified that it was important for the US not to “push away” Germany, which would prove to be an important ally if Russia invaded Ukraine. Democrats also believe that the inclusion of amendments to the budget could significantly limit the ability of the executive branch to impose and extend sanctions, as well as create an unnecessary precedent.

According to one of the aides, the presence of amendments to the defense budget imposes on the Senate the need to submit standard reports every two months, which could "block" its work. “The consequences here will go far beyond [restrictions for Nord Stream 2],” he said.