End of the North America trip: Baerbock thanks Canada for the gas turbine

At the end of her trip to North America, Secretary of State Baerbock supported Canada in the dispute over the delivery of the Nord Stream turbine. In the future, both countries are to move closer together as economic partners.

After the maintenance of a turbine for the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline in Canada, the country’s government has come under sharp criticism. By authorizing maintenance and delivery back to Russia, she circumvented sanctions against Russia. But during her visit to Montreal, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock clearly backed the actions of the Canadian government.

“As a government, you stood up for European solidarity,” emphasized Baerbock at a joint press conference with her Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly. Baerbock again accused Russia of wanting to use energy as a possible leverage. Especially in the face of such a threat, it must be clear: “We stand by each other, we stand up for each other. And I know that it wasn’t easy for you. Thank you very much for that.”

Joly also once again defended her government’s decision to allow delivery of the turbine. It is clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a “hybrid war” and wants to “sow division in our alliance”. Her country didn’t want to allow that.

Blaming the dispute over Turbine

Maintenance of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline began on July 11 – after about a week and a half, gas flowed from Russia to Germany again, albeit at a greatly reduced level. As early as mid-June, the Russian state-owned company Gazprom reduced gas deliveries to around 40 percent of maximum capacity.

In the past week, gas imports into the Federal Republic were throttled again – to only 20 percent of the possible delivery capacity. Gazprom justified this with further pending repair work.

Scholz rejects Russia’s allegations

However, the turbine serviced in Canada is stuck in Germany. According to Russia, necessary documents were missing. The sanctions imposed on Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine are to blame.

Chancellor Scholz clearly rejected this representation during a visit to the Siemens Energy plant in Mülheim an der Ruhr. He blamed Russia for delays in repatriation. “It is obvious that nothing, absolutely nothing, stands in the way of the further transport of this turbine and its installation in Russia,” said Scholz. “It can be transported and used at any time.”

“Huge potential” as an economic partner

In Canada, a parliamentary committee is currently investigating whether the government’s permission for the delivery of the turbine was legitimate. Joly is also expected to testify before the panel on Thursday.

However, Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock emphasized in Montreal that she does not only see a partner in Canada as a united front against Russia. The Greens politician also wants to cooperate more closely with Canada economically in the future, which she sees as “huge further potential”. For example when importing minerals, liquid gas or hydrogen.

In a few weeks, Chancellor Scholz also wants to travel to Canada to discuss closer economic cooperation.