Nord Stream 1 and 2 experienced dramatic dips in pressure on Monday, September 27th, 2022. Seismograph readings on the Danish Island of Bornholm recorded two spikes in earth tremors at the time of this occurrence. Reuters>
NATO has concluded that the series of leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines resulted from sabotage. WSJ>
What is the Nord Stream Pipeline?
Nord Stream is a 760-mile-long pipeline connecting Russia's Siberian gas fields to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream has a capacity of 65 billion cubic meters annually and was first opened in 2011. WSJ>
Nord Stream AG owns and operates the pipeline. The Russian state-owned company, Gazprom, is the majority shareholder.
Why is the Nord Stream Pipeline important?
The capacity of Nord Stream gives it the ability to supply about 10% of the EU's annual consumption. Nord Stream 2 would have doubled the capacity.
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU imported roughly 40% of its gas from Russia. And Germany depended on Russia for about 55% of its gas. Germany has worked to reduce that number to 35% and plans to reduce it to zero by importing gas from other countries. The EU member states agreed to cut their gas dependency to 15%. BBC>
Who Sabotaged the Nord Stream Pipeline?
Russia has been blamed for the Sabotage by Forbes writer, Ariel Cohen. The title of that article reads, "Russian Sabotage Of The Nord Stream Pipeline Marks A Point Of No Return." Forbes>
However, I find this unlikely. This was a "bizarre" move, as Russia had already shut supplies off, said Mike Fulwood, a senior research fellow at the independent Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. BBC>
Why would Russia sabotage a resource that gives them leverage over the EU, considering the dependency of Europe on Russia's gas?
Why would Russia sabotage the pipeline when they could simply hit the off switch?
I believe there are most likely suspects of the sabotage.
From the above information, Germany and the EU wanted to reduce energy dependence on Russia.
"This is a huge change for German foreign policy with massive implications for energy security and Berlin's broader position towards Moscow...It suggests that Germany is actually serious about imposing tough costs on Russia", said Marcel Dirsus, a non-resident fellow at Kiel University's Institute for Security Policy.
"This is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances...True leadership means tough decisions in difficult times. Germany's move proves just that", Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.
The Federal Network Agency (regulator of Germany's electric, gas, telecom, post, and railway sectors) suspended the certification process of Nord Stream 2 in November. "German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had asked the economy ministry to make sure certification could not take place now." Reuters>
Then there are the ominous remarks by President Joe Biden:
President Joe Biden: "If Russia invades (Ukraine)...then there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."
Reporter: "But how will you do that exactly, since the project in control of the project is within Germany's control?"
President Joe Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do it."
BIDEN admits US behind sabotage of Nordstream 1 and 2.
— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾🎗 (@Partisangirl) September 27, 2022
Biden: "If Russia invades...then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2."
Reporter: "But how will you do that, it's in germany's control?"
Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do that." pic.twitter.com/idlxQYuAqU
MenofOrder.com will refrain from drawing conclusions about this event and leave that up to you.
