Two explosions recorded nearby leaks on Russian natural gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea.
Explosions on the Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline routes were reported by the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN). “There is no doubt that these are explosions” said SNSN spokesman Björn Lund.
The Swedish Maritime Administration warned that the ships would not come too close to the area, notifying that there were two leaks on Russian-owned Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov said damage to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines may have been caused by sabotage.
“This is very disturbing news. Indeed, we are talking about some destruction in the pipeline, it is not yet clear what kind in the Danish economic zone. Indeed, pressure has dropped significantly” Peskov reported.
Former Polish Defence Minister thanks U.S.
As allegations of sabotage related to the leak were discussed, Former Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski shared images of the explosion and thanked the U.S. on his Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/radeksikorski/status/1574800653724966915
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned if Sikorski’s tweet were official confirmation of the attack and constituted an “official statement that this was a terrorist attack.”
Zakharova also questioned whether the U.S. was acting on the threat, recalling U.S. President Joe Biden’s promise to end the Nord Stream in February. “If Russia invades Ukraine there will be no longer Nord Stream 2. We will bring end to it” Mr. Biden told the press in early February.
Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) Investigation Department announced it launched investigation into the allegations.
In addition to Russia, the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) said it launched a probe into the leaks.
Speaking on the issue, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that the U.S. is working to ensure Europe’s both short-term basis and long-term basis energy security, arguing that the leaks will not have a significant impact on Europe’s energy resilience.
“There are initial reports indicating that this may be the result of an attack or some kind of sabotage, but these are initial reports, and we haven’t confirmed that yet. But if it is confirmed, that’s clearly in no one’s interest” said Blinken.
The sabotage benefits US
Thanks to the Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2 pipelines built to transport gas from Russia to Europe and primarily to Germany, Russia could bypass Poland and Ukraine and transport its gas directly to Western Europe.
Natural gas transport, which has been 55 billion cubic meters per year so far, was expected to double its capacity to 110 billion cubic meters with the launch of Nord Stream 2.
Until the war, about 40-50 percent of the Russian gas that reached Europe passed through Ukraine. With the launch of Nord Stream 2 project, Ukraine would be left out of the line and would cease to be a transit country. The change in this situation means a huge economic loss of about $2 billion for Ukraine.
On the other hand, Poland, one of the close allies of the United States, was one of the countries that strongly opposed Nord Stream 2. Warsaw, which aims to be an actor in gas transport, was objecting to the project, expressing concern that Russia would increase its leverage over Europe.
Affordable Russian gas was presented as an important priority for Germany, so that gas prices in Europe would fall with the Nord Stream 2 project. However, the U.S. wants to sell its own gas to Europe. But the liquid gas that the U.S. insists on selling to Germany and other European countries is about 20 per cent more expensive than Russian gas.
When the Ukrainian crisis started, Germany stopped the gas supply from these lines also with the pressure of the U.S. With these recent sabotages, it is noted that the gas exchange of Russia and Europe has become more arduous.
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