Sen. Cruz: Unanimous Approval of Nord Stream 2 Amendment Is Unmistakable Message to Companies to Abandon Putin’s Pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved his amendment specifically identifying 20 companies and ships involved in constructing Putin's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and requiring a determination within 15 days subjecting them to sanctions. The Committee today also advanced the nomination of Victoria Nuland, the President's nominee to be Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, who has committed in testimony that she will make stopping the pipeline a top priority if she is confirmed:

"Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a unified, bipartisan, unmistakable message to all companies involved in Nord Stream 2: the United States knows who you are, and if you don't get out immediately you will be sanctioned.

"As I've said repeatedly, completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would greatly undermine America's national security, reward Russia's aggressive expansionism and crimes, and hold our European allies' energy security hostage to Russia.

"My amendment should remove any hope among the companies building Nord Stream 2 that they can avoid accountability. Ambassador Nuland has committed publicly and privately in conversations with me to using every tool available, including Congressionally-mandated sanctions, to stop Nord Stream 2. The unanimous advancement of both today ensures that the State Department has the mandate and resources to expeditiously impose those devastating sanctions.

"As Secretary Blinken recently stated, "any entity involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline risks U.S. sanctions and should immediately abandon work on the pipeline." After the Committee's actions today, no one should be under any illusions what will happen next to any entity that fails to heed this warning."

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