- The US security adviser is talking to his Danish counterpart regarding the “apparent sabotage” of the Nord Stream Pipelines.
- He said that the US supports investigations and will continue to protect Europe’s energy security.
- German officials claim the pipelines were sabotage.
Jake Sullivan, US national security adviser, commented on “apparent sabotage” at the Nord Stream gas pipelines that connect Russia and Europe. He also highlighted the US’ efforts in aiding the investigation into the incident of September 26.
Tuesday night’s tweet by Sullivan read: “I spoke with my Danish counterpart Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe about the apparent sabotage Nord Stream pipelines.” He added that the U.S. supports European efforts to investigate and will continue to work to protect Europe’s energy security.
—Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) September 28, 2022
Sullivan’s comments echo statements from Germany where officials believe that the Nord Stream natural-gas pipes were sabotage.
Der TagesspiegelA German newspaper, “The Daily Mail”, reported that a government source said: “We can’t imagine a scenario which isn’t a targeted attack.” All evidence points to a conspiracy. Insider was told by a spokesperson for Germany’s Economy Ministry that it does not participate in speculation. Federal Network Agency (German Energy Regulator) said via email that they were working on clarifying the situation.
Mette Frederiksen (Danish prime minister) said that Tuesday’s damage was hard to imagine.
Tuesday’s statement by the Kremlin said that it cannot rule out sabotage. Reuters.
Following the incident in the region, all governments issued warnings to ships that they should not sail within five miles of the leaks.
“An unspecified leak was found Monday in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline at the Danish Baltic Sea part,” said the Danish Energy AgencyIn an announcement, September 26. “The Danish Maritime Authority has issued a navigational advisory and created a no-sail zone in the area.
The Danish Navy sent an Absalon class frigate to monitor the leaks and warn ships to avoid the area, according to the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reported Tuesday. Insider was told yesterday by a German official that a no-fly zone has been established over the affected region.
Insider was told that a Swedish Maritime Authority representative had received information about a leak in the Nord Stream 2 pipe, southeast of Bornholm on the Danish island. It later learned of two leaks on Nord Stream 1 northeast of Bornholm.
The Nord Stream pipelines incident could exacerbate Europe’s winter energy crisis. Russia supplies around 40% of Europe’s natural gas. Most of this is transported via pipelines.
Russia exported about 155 billion cubic meters of the fuel to Europe in 2021 — and more than one-third came from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, per Reuters.
Gazprom, a Russian state-controlled gas giant Gazprom, has completely cut off gas Nord Stream 1 provides supply to EuropeIn September, technical reasons were cited.
The Nord Stream 2Nord Stream 1 has never had a natural-gas pipeline run parallel to it. GermanyThe project was abandoned just days before Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, worth $11 million, was finished in September 2021.
