Law/policies
Law/policies can be used by the superpower to penalize or enforce compliance with rules and regulations governing nations. The implementation may be in the form of sections such as economic section, criminal articles amongst others.
The Russia gas pipeline project would double the former Nord Stream 1 pipeline giving it more power of influence. As a result, the European commission dislikes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as well as America. Contrarily, the commission still does not support the idea of the U.S imposing sanctions towards the Russia proposed project. However, the president of the United States Trump has continuously warned the company (Nord Stream 2), that on June he will consider a section. Bearing that the Europeans own the companies, articles would ruin the economic relation between Trump and the EU. These bring in the one reason why some of the EU members are supporting Trump.
Besides, the Unite State president has recently threatened to impose a tax on French wine to counter-attack the digital service tariffs. These have soured more relations. Also, shell CEO (supporter of the project) has stated that if the U.S put –across a sanction, there will be no other choice except complying.