Trump may be secretly negotiating Nord Stream 2 comeback

Bild reports that secret talks have been ongoing in Switzerland to resume the flow of cheap Russian gas to Germany via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The controversial Nord Stream 2 project, which was halted after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, could be revived. Despite sabotage in 2022, experts say repairs are possible at a cost far lower than the potential profits from the deal.

Trump’s former ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, is reportedly spearheading the effort. Grenell has made several trips to Switzerland to discuss the deal with Gazprom, Russia’s state gas giant. The plan involves the U.S. facilitating Russian gas delivery to Germany through Nord Stream 2, with America acting as an intermediary, controlling the flow and profiting from the arrangement.

Additionally, the two Nord Stream 1 pipelines may soon be repurposed to transport green hydrogen from Finland. American investors, including businessman Stephen Lynch, are also eyeing a stake in the project.

Matthias Warnig, a former Nord Stream 2 executive with close ties to Putin and former Chancellor Schröder, is reportedly involved, though he denies any direct talks with U.S. politicians. The Swiss court overseeing Nord Stream 2’s bankruptcy has extended the deadline for a deal, with geopolitical factors and Trump’s return to office influencing the decision.

The German government remains unaware of Grenell’s activities, and it’s uncertain whether the deal will come to fruition.

“While Nord Stream 2 is still awaiting final approval from German authorities, the situation has been complicated by a recent scandal in the Oval Office… This has made a swift ceasefire less likely, and the prospects for the gas deal now appear more uncertain,” the outlet concludes.