Thread by @BLSchmitt

🧵 [1] JUST OUT: A statement from the @FSIStanford @McFaul-led International Working Group on Russia Sanctions calling on Canada to reverse #NordStream1 turbine sanctions waiver decision & for German & US governments to politically endorse the reversal👇

drive.google.com/file/d/13IfWfw…

[2] Working Group co-signers of this statement calling for a reversal of the Siemens turbine sanctions waiver include: @McFaul, @JohnEdHerbst, @Nataliia_Shapo, @edwardfishman, @FukuyamaFrancis, @kath_stoner, @steven_pifer, @ben_moll, @MSnegovaya, Richard Morningstar & many more!

[3] The export controls waiver sets an unacceptable sanctions precedent that only emboldens the Putin regime to weaponize its energy leverage over Europe under the guise of dubious technical justifications.

[4] Rather that “countering Russia’s efforts to weaponize energy” the turbine transfer decision sets a troubling precedent that Moscow’s energy pressure can coerce Western leaders to accede to unjustified demands of the Putin regime.

[5] Multiple statements from the German government & technical offices have cast doubt that the turbine demand from Putin is anything but a false technical pretext - and Russia regularly uses dubious technical justifications for its political gas cutoffs & energy pressure.

[6] This is why it is particularly baffling that Berlin still reportedly pressured Ottawa to undermine Canada’s own export controls regime against certain energy technology transfers to Russia in spite of publicly debunking Putin’s false technical pretext.

[7] And even if Russia’s dubious technical justification were merited, it could immediately increase gas flows to the EU via the ample spare capacity along its other routes, like the underutilized Ukrainian gas transmission system.

Russia hasn’t done this.

[8] That Moscow isn’t diverting gas to other routes it has cut off, but instead is making dubious claims about the need for turbines for #NordStream1, and Putin has made calls to instead start #NordStream2, shows the political nature and false justification of the cutoff.

[9] Decision also undermines current technology export restrictions in place against Russia, telegraphing to the Kremlin that energy pressure against Europe is an effective strategy against sanctions relief in the future.

This will be the lesson Putin draws from this waiver.

[10] This is especially concerning as technology export controls are reportedly having a significant impact on a range of sectors, including limiting technologies needed by the Russian military to wage war against Ukraine.

More tech sanctions, rather than waivers, are needed.

[11] At a time when sanctions unity is vital, #Berlin’s pressure on #Ottawa to exempt the Siemens turbines from sanctions undermines Western unity on #Russian export controls measures & degrades #Transatlantic sanctions consensus.

[12] This is why Working Group co-signers call on:

1️⃣ Canada to reverse its turbines waiver decision.

2️⃣ Germany to block transfer of first turbine reportedly sent from Canada to Germany from reaching Russia.

3️⃣ Berlin & Washington to politically endorse these actions.

[END]