Castigated by U.S. President Donald Trump as relying too much on Russian gas supplies, German Chancellor Angela Merkel heads to Azerbaijan this week to discuss the development of a southern pipeline to deliver gas to Europe from the Caspian. The visit underscores Merkel’s openness to finding alternative sources of affordable gas even as she remains committed to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will carry gas directly from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany. “We have a big interest in further developing the Southern Corridor,” a senior German government official said. “This is part of the EU’s diversification strategy of getting gas from other regions, not just Russia, to Europe.” In Baku, Merkel will discuss energy issues, including improving the infrastructure to help transport […]