Paris, December 11, 2024 – The Europe Today: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended Germany’s historic energy relationship with Russia, stating that procuring Russian natural gas during her tenure was a strategic and economical decision. Merkel, who served as chancellor from 2005 to 2021, made these remarks in an exclusive interview with France 2 during her Paris visit to promote her memoir.
“The gas trade with Russia has a deep-rooted tradition. It began during the Cold War and continued throughout my time in office. I do not think it was a mistake because we obtained Russian gas at a favorable price,” Merkel said during the interview aired on Monday evening. She emphasized that the arrangement was a “win-win situation” for both sides.
Addressing the current challenges Germany faces in sourcing energy, Merkel noted that the dramatic price surges after the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict would have occurred earlier if Berlin had ended its energy trade with Moscow during her administration. “I believe it is reasonable to procure the most affordable gas,” she remarked.
Merkel also defended the controversial Nord Stream 2 project, launched under her leadership in 2015 and partially completed by 2018. She pointed out that there had been no significant opposition from the business community to halting the gas trade with Russia at the time.
The future of the Nord Stream pipelines became uncertain following geopolitical tensions. Nord Stream 2 was never certified due to political resistance from Berlin, and Nord Stream 1 was destroyed in September 2022 by underwater explosions. Investigations by Germany, Sweden, and Denmark have yet to identify a culprit, though reports have suggested involvement by a “rogue” group of Ukrainians. Despite this, one line of Nord Stream 2 remains operational and could deliver gas if Berlin reconsiders its stance.
Merkel’s remarks come amid rising energy costs in Germany, where reliance on more expensive US liquefied natural gas has triggered industrial shutdowns and bankruptcies. Critics have pointed to the loss of Russian gas as a key factor in Germany’s economic challenges.
The former chancellor also reflected on the Minsk Agreements, designed to resolve the Ukraine conflict peacefully. In a December 2022 interview, Merkel revealed that Germany and France viewed the agreements as a strategy to buy time for arming Ukraine in preparation for potential confrontation with Russia—a claim later corroborated by former French President François Hollande.
Merkel’s comments highlight the ongoing debate over Germany’s energy policies and their long-term implications for both its economy and geopolitical positioning.
