Merkel Greenlit Gazprom Deal: Chancellery Documents Reveal
Gazprom Deal Secured Through Merkel's Winking Diplomacy
Get the inside scoop on how Germany's controversial gas storage facilities sale to Gazprom went down under Chancellor Merkel.
Merkel's Silence on Gazprom Deal Sparked Controversy
Despite internal warnings and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, former Chancellor Angela Merkel went ahead with the sale of German gas storage facilities to the Russian state-owned company Gazprom. Internal documents from the Chancellery, released under legal pressure by "Süddeutsche Zeitung," show Merkel's involvement in the project, which became a symbol of Germany's naive Russia policy. Before the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, the storage facilities' filling levels had significantly dropped, causing a deep energy crisis in Germany.
Behind the Scenes: Merkel's Support for Gazprom
In July 2015, Merkel was informed about the asset swap between BASF/Wintershall and Gazprom as part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Despite internal concerns about the potential risks, the Chancellery found no legal basis to prohibit the transaction. However, the Chancellery was aware of the risks posed by Gazprom's control of the storage facilities, stating, "Control of important gas storage (filling, functionality) will make Gazprom directly responsible for the supply security of customers." Merkel approved this recommendation and prepared arguments to counter expected protests from Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltic states.
Covert Support for Nord Stream 2
The Chancellery provided the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" with 63 documents, revealing the extent to which the German government covertly supported the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The documents show that the administration publically presented the sale as a private economic venture while secretly supporting the project. The potential loss of gas transit revenue for Ukraine was downplayed, with the Chancellery suggesting that any additional gas flowing to Germany could be transported to Ukraine via reverse flow.
The Context: Merkel's Russia Policy
Merkel's administration's controversial decisions on gas deals with Russia can be traced back to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West. Despite international criticism and internal dissent, Merkel's goal was to strengthen economic cooperation, particularly through energy projects like Nord Stream 2, balancing economic interests with diplomatic pressures. This strategy was controversial, as it highlighted the complex interplay between economic and geopolitical considerations in Merkel's foreign policy approach.
Sources: ntv.de, mau
- Angela Merkel
- Gazprom
- Crimea
- Attack on Ukraine
- Nord Stream 2
- Economic Diplomacy
- Geopolitical Tensions
- The controversial sale of German gas storage facilities to Gazprom under Chancellor Merkel's tenure was supported by the employment policy within the Chancellery, despite potential risks and geopolitical tensions, as shown in the industry-related documents released by "Süddeutsche Zeitung."
- The economic diplomacy strategy of Chancellor Merkel was evident in her administration's support for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project and the subsequent sale of gas storage facilities to Gazprom, despite initial concerns about supply security and potential political backlash from neighboring countries.
- The internal Chancellery documents revealing Merkel's involvement in the Gazprom deal delve into the finance and energy aspects of the decision, with the employment policy focusing on justifying the transaction to counter criticism and maintain a balance between economic interests and diplomatic pressures.
