Potential Nord Stream Sabotage Leaves Europe on Edge
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which transports Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea, suffered two leaks that many attribute to Russian sabotage (Wikimedia Commons)
On September 26, two mysterious leaks were reported on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. Sweden’s national seismic network registered two explosions around the pipelines at different times. While investigations into the cause of the leaks are ongoing, many believe Russia is to blame.
The two pipelines are responsible for delivering Russian natural gas to Germany and other parts of Europe. While Nord Stream 2 hasn’t been cleared for operation, Nord Stream 1 is a crucial pipeline connecting Russia and the rest of Europe. Earlier in September, Russia closed the pipeline citing maintenance problems.
The incident rattled European leaders, who are currently bracing for the worst while expanding security measures for their own infrastructure. Norway, Denmark, and Sweden announced plans to tighten security. The White House also issued a statement in response stating that, “the U.S. is supporting efforts to investigate and we will continue our work to safeguard Europe’s energy security.”
Alex Munton, an expert on global gas markets at Rapidan Energy Group, cited this action as “an escalation in the conflict with potentially direct attacks on physical infrastructure.” He also posed the question, “what other infrastructure might be vulnerable to something similar happening?”
On October 6, a Swedish preliminary probe found that “detonations” were the source of the Nord Stream leaks. This finding lends credence to accusations of sabotage. Sweden’s public prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist claimed that the “crime scene investigation had strengthened the suspicions of aggravated sabotage.”
Swedish prosecutors said they were blocking off the area around the leaks in the Swedish zone to carry out an inspection. Now that the investigation is completed, authorities will lift the blockade around the pipelines.
While the actor behind these explosions is still unknown, both Russia and Western Allies have accused each other of being responsible for the sabotage attempt. It is now a waiting game to discover who is to blame for escalating the conflict on an infrastructural level.