Sweden confirms new leak in Nord Stream’s underwater gas pipelines Pipa News
The NATO military alliance warned on Thursday that it would retaliate against any attack on critical infrastructure in its 30 member states, joining other Western officials in citing sabotage as the likely cause of damage to two natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
The warning came as the Swedish coast guard confirmed a fourth leak in the pipelines off southern Sweden, which is on the brink of joining NATO. On Tuesday, the first leaks were reported in pipelines stretching from Russia to Germany, prompting energy companies and European governments to step up security.
Fears of further damage to Europe’s energy infrastructure have increased pressure on natural gas prices, which had already risen dramatically. Russia, a major supplier to Europe, halted supplies earlier this year in retaliation for sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. It has caused widespread economic pain across the continent.
NATO ambassadors said in a statement that “any deliberate attack on allied critical infrastructure would be met with a united and decisive response.” They declined to say who they believed was responsible, although some allies, such as Poland, and many experts have said they believe Russia is responsible.
“All currently available information indicates that this is the result of deliberate, reckless and irresponsible acts of sabotage. These leaks pose risks to shipping and significant environmental damage,” the envoy said.
Rising tensions over energy security in Europe come as Russia prepares to annex four regions of occupied Ukraine, a move widely condemned by the West. Russian energy giant Gazprom added to energy supply uncertainty on Wednesday by threatening on Twitter to stop working with a Ukrainian company that operates one of the two remaining pipelines carrying Russian gas to Europe.
Instead of blaming anyone specifically, EU officials said Thursday they would await the results of an investigation, which is unlikely to begin in earnest until next week when the submarine pipelines are empty.
The two lines between Russia and Germany were not in operation. But they were filled with tons of methane, a major cause of global warming released into the atmosphere and which will continue to bubble to the surface of the Baltic Sea, probably until Sunday, according to energy experts.
Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov took to Twitter to call NATO’s statement a “joint condemnation and a very strong signal from the alliance”. But NATO has made many decisive statements to defend its members and their territory since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Two of the leaks are on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which Russia recently shut down because it increased energy pressure on Europe. The other two are on Nord Stream 2, which has never been used. The Danish and Swedish governments have said they believe the leaks were “deliberate acts”.
Seismologists say the leaks were preceded by explosions. A first explosion was recorded by seismologists early Monday southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm. A second, more powerful explosion northeast of the island that night matched an earthquake measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale. Seismic stations in Denmark, Norway and Finland also recorded the explosions.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Wednesday, before the fourth leak was reported, that a large explosive was needed to cause the damage.
Norway was one of the first countries to step up protection of its energy facilities on Wednesday. Finnish Finance Minister Annika Saarikko said on Thursday that security measures have been tightened around the Balticconnector line in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia.
“Very exceptional and serious actions that suggest sabotage give reason to intensify our preparations,” Saarikko told reporters.
“Very dangerous situation”
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that the Nord Stream pipeline incident would have been impossible without the involvement of a state actor.
“It looks like a terrorist attack, probably carried out at the state level,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.
He dismissed media reports of Russian warships spotted in the area as “stupid and biased”, adding that “many more aircraft and ships from NATO countries have been spotted in the area”.
At the request of Russia, the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the suspected sabotage of the pipeline.
Torben Ørting Jorgensen, a former admiral in the Danish navy, told The Associated Press that it was “not that demanding” to carry out an operation, either by using a remote-controlled submersible or by sending divers from a submarine. or a surface vessel.
Those who carried out the operation knew they would not be caught, he says. “Who would have ever thought of an operation against pipelines in the Baltic Sea?”
.