In the context of Europe began to discuss the ability to reuse Nord Stream 2 pipes to import cheap Russian gas, US investor Stephen Lynch is aggressively campaigning for the corridor to buy back the gas pipeline project. This $ 11 billion worth.
However, despite spending tens of thousands of dollars to seek support from Washington, Lynch was still rejected by close characters of President Donald Trump bluntly due to concerns about his relationships with Russia.
Nord Stream 2, gas pipeline from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, was disabled after the sabotage in September 2022. Since then, Europe has turned to liquefied gases (LNG) with higher prices from the US and other suppliers.
However, if peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine progress, Nord Stream 2 could become an important factor in European energy structure again.
Intelligence Online said that this has attracted the attention of Stephen Lynch, an investor specializing in purchasing assets delayed through Monte Valle Partners. Lynch did not hesitate to spend heavily to promote the project of acquiring Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, on the grounds that this would be a strategic lever to help the United States control European energy flow.
However, this deal is not easy. Nord Stream 2 is still on the black list of the US Foreign Asset Control Office (ofac) due to the Russian Petroleum Gazprom Group.
In order to seek support from the White House, Lynch approached two influential figures in the US political world, Edward McMullen, former US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein under President Donald Trump, currently a adviser level. High at Adams and Reese Law firm. Lynch also approached Gentry Beach, a Texas investor and a close friend of Mr. Donald Trump Jr., his son.
Even so, both decided to refuse after conducting an investigation to Lynch.
According to close sources, McMullen and Beach think that Lynch is a "slow explosive bomb". He was accused of being involved in the corruption scandal at Yukos Petroleum Group in 2007 and had many suspicious transactions with Russian partners.
Despite being alienated by President Donald Trump, Lynch still did not give up the plan. He hired a group of corridors including Robert Lehman from Wilmerhale Law Firm and Mathew Lapinski and John Breaux from Crossroads Strategies.
From November, 2024, Lynch has spent at least $ 120,000 on corridor campaign activities, including $ 50,000 for Wilmer Cutler and $ 70,000 for CrossRoads.
However, the future of Nord Stream 2 is still very precarious. The process of liquidating the pipe operating company in Switzerland is expected to be completed on 9.5.2025. Currently, Nord Stream AG - Nord Stream 2 operating unit - is about 90 million euros frozen at Tradexbank, a financial institution once owned by Sberbank Russian. Lynch and M3 Group of Entrepreneur Abdallah Chatila are competing for this money.
Nord Stream 2 is still "card". Lynch's difficulty in the acquisition of Nord Stream 2 reflects the sensitivity of this project in the global geopolitical context. Even people who have a close relationship with President Donald Trump do not want to involve a risky deal with Russia.
However, if the Ukrainian situation changes and Europe is reopened with Russian gas, not excluding the possibility that this deal will have unexpected turnings.
