At the end of last week, the press service of the Nord Stream 2 AG operator, somehow very casually reported that the Russian pipelayer Fortuna, despite the continuing anti-Russian "gas bacchanalia" in the Western media, began laying the unfinished section of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline »In the territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Actually, on the one hand, this event is - at least from a purely technical and commercial point of view - quite ordinary and expected (this is why, by the way, the Nord Stream 2 AG operator company is so "unarmedly calm": for them, the planned resumption of work nothing extraordinary happens, frankly).
But, on the other hand, this very ordinary, in principle, event caused such a colorful and full-color hysteria in the ranks of the opponents of “undemocratic Russian gas molecules” on both sides of the Atlantic that, excuse me, it’s dear to see.
So, let's say, expectedly - in the style of "plaster of paris" - threw a hysterical Bloomberg (well, from these, to be honest, it was rather ridiculous to expect anything else), who spoke almost with an editorial in the style of the famous "Captain Obvious" on the topic that "the completion of the construction of the last section of this gas pipeline will lead to an exacerbation of the already strained diplomatic relations with the United States and lawmakers in Washington intend to tighten sanctions."
If only Bloomberg ...
With a well-coordinated volley, despite the fact that, in fact, the medical fact that the epicenter of world news still remains "American turmoil", with the presidential elections among the aborigines and their far-reaching consequences around the world, they "fired" at this, which worries them all the same, as it turns out, the topic and other leading global English-language media.
From CNN onwards, sorry, everywhere.
But most of all, of course, distinguished itself Deutsche Presse-Agentur - it is quite respectable and quite respected in the news world DPA - the leading and sort of "German national" news agency (in fact, it was privatized back in 1994, but it is so , trifles), - who published a conversation with an anonymous high-ranking official of the American administration (it would be better to understand “which of” is leaving or coming), without the slightest bit of doubt declared that “Carthage will be destroyed”, ugh, that the Nord Stream 2 project "Generally" has no chance of implementation "(c) and Russian gas will never be supplied via it, despite any technical resumption of the pipeline construction.
Sorry, but this must be quoted verbatim.
Nord Stream 2, according to a "senior US official," is "a pipeline that will never transport Russian gas."
“If Nord Stream 2 AG could actually complete the project, they would have done it a long time ago,” the agency in Washington told the agency.
What can I say.
Well, first of all, it should be noted that when "authoritative high-ranking anonymous sources" from Washington begin to sound in the spirit, do not be remembered by nightfall, the ever-memorable Nobel laureate Barack Obama, with his "Russian economy torn to shreds" - this is certainly , already quite entertaining and superbly funny.
Because about “flightless Russian planes and missiles”, “non-floating submarines” and “the Crimean bridge drawn by Russian animators”, it just so happened, we have heard more than once.
And every time, purely even from the point of view of the accumulated experience "by precedent", it was for "Russian technologies" - for some reason it was a rather good signal: the planes flew where they needed to, "Daggers" and other "Calibers" hit what was needed.
And the "non-floating" Russian submarines strolled off the coast of California for some reason.
About the "drawn" Crimean bridge, on which the author had a chance and personally ride, you can probably not even speak here.
However, here, of course, even this is not more important, but the fact that we should "secondly".
And secondly - by the way, we have written about this many times, and the campaign that has begun on Western media platforms is just another evidence of this - the confrontation over the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is not at all tied to its technical completion.
And with its completion, sorry for the tautology, it will not end.
Too many interests converged there, too much was suddenly at stake, and the price was too high.
Therefore, one should not celebrate and rejoice here either now or after the completion of the construction - and to all, without exception, the confrontation parties: the struggle awaits us ahead of a bright, long-term, and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in this struggle is only one (albeit a rather convex ) episode.
Because now it is not a question of an ordinary gas pipeline at all.
And - neither more nor less - about the energy (and economic in general) future of continental Europe.
Which (in its usual for itself by historical standards, although, fortunately, the half-forgotten regime of the two past world wars) more and more rapidly regains the rather dubious status of a "European economic and military-political theater".
Here, in general, everything is quite simple, and there is no need to invent anything: the main function of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline being completed is the essence of ensuring real energy sovereignty of at least the economic heart of "old" continental Europe, its northwestern (Baltic) industrial cluster.
Moreover, the acquisition of real energy independence necessary for the industrial development of the entire old continent.
And this is somehow rather stupid not to understand.
As well as the fact that the rift in this confrontation lies not in the east of the European continent, but in its extreme west.
There is no need to invent anything here, it is quite simple to see how persistently “old Europe” was cut off from all stable sources of cheap energy.
And even "Russian gas" is just one of the elements and symbols of this confrontation, which manifested itself especially vividly during the "Arab Spring".
An amazing "side" result of which was the real problems with the traditional routes of energy supplies to the European continent - from the same North Africa, for example.
Here, in general, everything looks rather ingenuous: either “continental” Europe will be suppressed and it will finally become a peripheral and semi-colonial zone of the Anglo-Saxon “free western world”.
Or it, continental Europe, will resist for some time, which, in particular, is urged not only by Macron, but also by the big European energy business in general.
But not in an open confrontation with the Anglo-Saxons on both sides of the Atlantic - here continental Europe is somehow not particularly strong today.
Lost skills and opportunities, as they say.
In contrast, by the way, from the "science of survival under pressure", which has been decently learned in recent decades.
And there - they will endure, and then - well, he too, judging by the latest events, may not last forever, this "wonderful free world."
Now, as regards, in fact, us, that is, the Russian Federation.
First of all, we should remember one simple thing: yes, in this situation, old Europe, or rather, its first and foremost German economy, is our objective situational ally, at least at the current time.
In particular, we are directly interested in the fact that the European Northwest Industrial Cluster, which is a traditional market for energy resources for us and an equally traditional partner in various industrial endeavors, does not gradually "collapse" under American pressure.
And flourished as much as possible.
But in all other respects, we cannot be more Europeans than the Europeans themselves.
And this, in essence, is still not our war.
In which, unfortunately, everything is just beginning.
And in which the technical completion of the construction of Nord Stream 2 is, albeit bright and even beautiful in its own way, but just one, albeit a rather significant episode.
But in general, this beauty is there now with the "European economic wars" for many, many years.
We hope - rather as observers.
For the country is already, as it were, tired of dragging chestnuts out of this, gradually, for objective reasons, flaring up the European-American fire with its own hands for outside comrades.
And this is just something rather stupid and extremely naive not to understand.
The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.