U.S. President Joe Biden will host Chancellor Angela Merkel next month as the two NATO allies look to move beyond a dispute over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline linking Germany with Russia. While the pipeline wasn’t mentioned in a list of discussion topics for the July 15 meeting at the White House, it is sure to be on the agenda. The U.S. opposes the almost-completed project, citing concerns it will increase Germany’s reliance on Russia, while Merkel’s government argues that it’s purely a commercial venture. The two leaders will discuss “a range of common challenges, including ending the Covid-19 pandemic, addressing ... (full story)