Tension Between Russia-Germany

• 07 Sep 2020

Why in News

Recently, tensions between Russia and Germany have deepened over the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

• Germany has threatened sanctions against Russia which, in turn, has accused Germany of delaying the investigation on the matter.

Key Points

• Alexei Navalny is Russia’s opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner who was evacuated to Germany after falling ill.
• Germany claims that the opposition leader has been poisoned using the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
  
  • It is one of the strongest accusations yet from Germany on the basis that the deadly substance has been used by the Russian authorities, in the past as well.
• Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), will discuss possible sanctions against Russia if it fails to provide an explanation.
  
  • The EU can discuss sanctions on Nord Stream 2, which is a critical energy export project for the Russian government.

Novichok

• It means "newcomer" in Russian and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, under a programme codenamed Foliant.
  
  • Nerve agents act by blocking messages from the nerves to the muscles, causing a collapse of many bodily functions.
  • The main nerve agents are the chemicals sarin (GB), soman (GD), tabun (GA) and VX. Sarin was used by Syrian air force in chemical attacks on a village in Syria's western Hama region in 2017.
  • Nerve agents are man-made and have been manufactured for use in chemical warfare.
• These nerve agents were designed to escape detection and are extremely toxic.

Nord Stream 2

• About:
  
  • It is a nearly constructed 1,200-kilometre pipeline from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea.
  • It will run alongside the already constructed Nord Stream and will double the amount of gas being funnelled through the Baltics to 110 billion cubic meters per year.
• Benefits:
  
  • It is intended to provide Europe with a sustainable gas supply while providing Russia with more direct access to the European gas market.
  • Its proposed route enters the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of three other countries: Finland, Sweden and Denmark. National governments and local authorities will benefit economically from investment and employment in the pipeline.
• Security Concerns and Criticism:
  
  • The project has been criticized by the USA and Germany's Eastern neighbours like Poland, Czech Republic etc. citing Russian dependence as a threat to the common market and the EU’s strategic interests.
    
    • The pipeline will enable Russia to increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea and also to transmit military information on the movements of naval vessels.

Source: TH