On September 27, 2022, the two pipelines carrying Russian gas to Europe were destroyed in the Baltic Sea. For the moment, it is difficult to measure the ecological, economic and geopolitical consequences.
The controversy is agitating international strategists. Who had an interest in sabotaging the two giant tubes carrying Russian gas to Europe?
Before the Russian-Ukrainian war, the European states consumed about 400 billion cubic meters of natural gas, 45% of which came from Russia, that is to say 155 billion m3. The main customers were Germany and Italy. This natural gas was transported via the Nord Stream 1 (NS1) pipeline in operation since 2012 (1,000 km on land and 1224 km under the Baltic). Another pipeline, Nord Stream 2, (1,200 km under water) aimed at doubling the volumes of gas transported to Europe, was completed in 2021. Loaded with gas, it has never really made any deliveries. In addition, NS2 was intended to get rid of the commercial taxes on passage through Poland and Ukraine. In addition, the financing of the infrastructure was supported for half by Gazprom, the rest by 5 European companies including Engie.
On March 1, 2022, Nord Stream 2 SA filed for bankruptcy, following the sanctions decided by Germany, the European Union and the United States in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine.
American hostility
The School of Economic Warfare recalls that gas imports were distributed as follows: 74% is transported by pipeline, 31% from Russia, 28% from Norway. 26% is transported in the form of LNG from Qatar, 20%, 16% from the United States, 12% from Nigeria and 5% from Algeria (transported to Spain by the Maghreb-Europe or Pedro Durand Farrell gas pipeline). It also recalls “American interference in a European debate: Washington was always opposed to the NS2 project in the name of European energy independence.
The least we can say is that, since the beginning of the construction of Nord Stream 2, the United States has been hostile to this project. In an article of April 11, 2022 entitled “Water in the gas between Washington and Moscow” Bruno Husquinet explained the many reasons that Joe Biden had for sabotaging the Russian-European gas pipeline.
Europe, the United States and Russia have diverging interests in this matter. Indeed, since the invasion of Ukraine, “exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to the European Union have almost tripled,” declared Ursula von der Leyen in July 2022. As of June, the U.S. had exported about 57 billion cubic meters of LNG, 39 billion of which went to Europe.
“A terrorist attack”
So who sabotaged NS1 and NS2 on September 27? All eyes immediately turned to Moscow. In Kiev, the advisor to the Ukrainian presidency, Mykhaïlo Podoliak, denounced “a planned terrorist attack” by Moscow. Without proof. The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, accused the Russians. “We see clearly that this is an act of sabotage that probably marks the next step in the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.”
It appears clear that the explosion was due to a deliberate act requiring the use of state means. No terrorist organization is capable of such sabotage.
The Kremlin, for its part, retorts that it would be “stupid and absurd” for it to destroy one of its main sources of income, at least for the future.
Moreover, Moscow is calling for a meeting of the UN Security Council to find out whether the United States has carried out its threats.
Biden’s reckless comments
Indeed, on February 7, 2022, Joe Bident stated that he would do what was necessary to stop Nord Stream 2 if the Russians invaded Ukraine. In fact, the United States seems to be the primary beneficiary of the sabotage operation. By disconnecting Europe from Russian gas, they can sell their LNG to the EU at prohibitive prices while further subjugating European economies.
This destructive will of NS 1 and 2 is not new: it was revealed in 2008 by wikileaks in a declassified cable
But there is something more surprising. According to the I.E. Portal, “sources” mention the presence of the US Government Vessel 3, an American warship, in the vicinity of the explosion from the interactive map of world maritime flows.
Is this true? Not true? It is difficult to confirm even if this presence raises questions.
#Biden en février 2022 : Si la #Russie envahit…alors il n'y aura plus de #NordStream2 . Ns y mettrons fin. » Journaliste : « Mais comment allez-vous faire…c'est sous le contrôle de l'Allemagne ? » Réponse du président américain « Je vous promets que nous pourrons le faire. » pic.twitter.com/3ONPhNsAQG
— LIBERTÉ ✊🏽🇨🇵 (@lamar_ianne) September 27, 2022