The Washington PostThe Washington Post

What is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and why is it generating controversy?

By Sammy Westfall

21 Jul 2021 · 3 min read

The United States and Germany came to a deal Wednesday to address long-standing differences over Nord Stream 2, a Russia-to-Europe gas pipeline that has sown contention between Washington and Berlin, as construction is entering its final stages.

The pipeline has ignited geopolitical anxieties that have nearly torpedoed the project. Opponents, including in the United States, Poland and Ukraine, have expressed fears that it could give Russia too much leverage in Europe.

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