Is Germany ready to recognize itself as a vassal of the United States

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has once again proved that the greatness of a country depends not only on its size and military power, but also on its readiness to raise its voice against the self-styled world gendarme. 

“I personally, I emphasize, I personally do not see any connection between the case with Navalny and Nord Stream 2.

"Nord Stream 2" is for me a commercial project that significantly concerns Russia, Ukraine and European partners, - said Van der Bellen in response to a question whether he supports the idea of ​​blocking Nord Stream 2 due to the incident with Navalny ...

- In this particular case, we are talking about diversifying gas supplies.

This is a commercial issue. "

Van der Bellen recalled that Austria has been buying gas from Gazprom for more than 50 years, and clarified that the situation around the gas pipeline should be "resolved in Europe, not in Washington."

Well, there is politics, and there is real governance.

And the gap between them in Europe has lately become wider and deeper.

Moreover, the further, the more the policy is away from the arguments of reason, but is trying to jump over this abyss and influence real governance.

Blocking Nord Stream 2 - Who Benefits From It?

The one and only beneficiary is the United States.

It will only be profitable for America, which really wants to sell its expensive liquefied gas to Europe.

Blocking the project is directed as much against Europe as it is against Russia.

Let me remind you one more important point: there is a guarantee that if the project is blocked, then investors will have to pay € 8 billion in compensation.

And these are not Russian, these are Western companies, which in case of an unfavorable outcome of the enterprise will professionally take their money.

They are good at this, there is no doubt.

At the same time, the situation in Germany today is critical: the shortfall in taxes due to the coronavirus is € 20 billion. And € 8 billion with such an unforeseen deficit is a very large amount.

There are calculations based on which Gazprom's losses will amount to up to € 2 billion if the project is stopped.

The amount is also considerable, but nevertheless not critical for the company.

Plus, China still needs gas, there are opportunities for reorientation.

It is warm now, but the cold may start soon.

Germans are not Russians, who are used to grumbling, indignation and enduring.

When a German suddenly receives a gas bill 30% more expensive than usual, he is unlikely to put up with this and will be silent, he will go out into the street.

That is, for the time being, this is a geopolitical issue, but then it inevitably turns into a purely domestic political one.

And with this discontent something will have to be done.

Imagine a picture in which a stable minus, ten degrees, suddenly comes to Europe in winter.

What will they do to pray to Greta Thunberg?

We have already witnessed numerous protests throughout Germany, caused by inadequate, according to people, measures to combat the coronavirus.

The people of Germany have shown that they are not ready to silently put up with what does not suit them.

And the suddenly soaring prices for housing and communal services in an economy affected by the quarantine is no less - if not a greater - reason for mass protests.

At the moment, the media machine for counteracting Nord Stream 2 is turned on at full capacity, but this unnatural passion, with which some European politicians advocate the American “freedom gas” that is disadvantageous for Europe, at some point can very easily crash on a boat everyday life.

About the discontent of ordinary citizens of the European Union, who do not care what is happening in Russia, but cheap Russian gas is important.

The voice of reason in the case of Nord Stream 2 is represented not only by the considerations of ordinary people in Germany who pay for gas from their own wallet regularly and on time.

Moscow and Berlin are long-standing partners who have earned each other's trust.

It is interesting that today German specialists are turning to the Russians with a request to help them explain to the authorities reasonably that the German energy sector is at a dead end.

St. Petersburg Mining University, together with the Freiberg Mining Academy, are now working on a report for German politicians, and very interesting facts come to light.

On paper, of course, there is enough alternative energy in Germany.

Today the country needs 60-80 GW (gigawatts).

The existing capacities formally allow generating up to 100 GW.

But at the same time, politicians forget that with calmness and the absence of the sun, serious problems arise with filling the energy system.

Plus, they want to remove coal and nuclear power from the heat balance, but at the same time switch to electric vehicles that need to be regularly recharged.

The slightest failure is fraught with a complete stop of everything.

What is the situation with wind turbines in Germany?

In some regions, out of their total number, 50 percent of them actually work.

To repair the rest, you need special equipment, helicopters.

Basically, it costs the same to repair a new wind turbine.

But it is impossible to abandon wind turbines - because the necessary limits on sources of alternative energy go down from Brussels to Berlin, and then to the regions, the rules must be followed.

In fact, the energy necessary for the country is generated at the usual thermal stations, and money is simply written off for wind generators.

This is the real state of affairs, which is already being discussed by adequate German politicians on the ground.

Of course, the arguments of reason are not a fashionable thing today, nevertheless, the Germans are people who are very good at counting money.

So the Austrian president (Austria, remember, is a German-speaking country) spoke out. 

An interesting intrigue with Nord Stream 2.

In fact, the question is as follows: are the Europeans ready to accept fully and completely their vassal position in relation to the United States and agree to pay tribute to the overseas lord?

To buy gas more expensive from the Americans instead of a cheaper Russian on the basis of only one vassal relationship? 

Or will national pride and economic necessity make them finally raise their heads and say their resolute "no" to Washington, which has completely lost its borders?

It's up to them, not us.

The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.