Boom Goes the Pipeline

The European Union said leaks in two major gas pipelines linking Russia and Europe were the result of sabotage.

Summary

The European Union said leaks in two major gas pipelines linking Russia and Europe were the result of sabotage and vowed the bloc would counter with the “strongest possible response.”

• The culprit behind the attacks on the multi-billion-dollar pipelines remains unclear. The leaks occurred in the economic zones of Denmark and Sweden and gas is still leaking out into the Baltic Sea at the time of writing.
• The European Union, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden believe the sabotage occurred on Monday and it may take several weeks before the waters near the leaks calm enough so authorities can investigate.
• A Kremlin spokesman dismissed claims of Russian culpability for the attacks as “predictably stupid” and tried to shift blame to the United States and American companies.
• The Nord Stream pipelines are the largest supply routes providing Russian natural gas to Europe, although Nord Stream 1 has been idle since August for “maintenance issues” and Nord Stream 2 was halted just before the invasion of Ukraine.
• The Nord Stream pipelines were championed by former German chancellors Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel despite heavy criticism by successive American administrations and the desires of other European partners.

• CNN reported that American intelligence warned several European countries in recent months, including Germany, that the Nord Stream pipelines could come under attack.
• The New York Times wrote that European officials were “deeply unsettled” by the pipeline ruptures. The attacks have increased European fears about their energy infrastructure while Ukraine and Poland were quick to blame Russia for the leaks.
• The Guardian noted Danish seismographs recorded two explosions on Monday, the day the two pipelines experienced dramatic pressure collapses. Danish authorities ruled out earthquakes and said the likeliest explanation was some form of undersea explosive.

• To solve “the Nord Stream whodunit,” National Review asked, “Who benefits?” While many news sources and political leaders are pointing a finger at Russia, the author noted one Polish lawmaker and pro-Russian media alleged the United States was behind the pipeline explosions.
• The Telegraph made the case for why Vladimir Putin would want to blow up Nord Stream 2. European leaders are working on a new sanctions package and Putin may have wanted to put pressure on European governments by hiking their voters’ energy costs just before winter.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that European leaders are “scrambling” to shore up the continent’s energy infrastructure to withstand deliberate attacks and shield the continent from Russian aggression.

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© Dominic Moore, 2022