NATO chief calls Nord Stream leaks acts of ‘sabotage’
The leaks from the Nord Stream pipelines are acts of “sabotage”, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after a meeting with Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov in Brussels.
“We discussed the #NorthStream pipeline sabotage with Defense Minister Morten Bodskov of our valued ally Denmark. We discussed the protection of critical infrastructure in #NATO countries,” Stoltenberg said on his verified Twitter account.
Stoltenberg’s comments came after the Swedish authorities warned of the existence of multiple leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea, near Sweden and Denmark, and which have been the main sources. of the energy war between Europe and Russia.
There are reasons to worry about the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, following unexplained leaks from the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Bodskov said after Wednesday’s meeting.
Discussed the sabotage on the #NorthStream pipelines with Defence Minister @mfMorten of our valued Ally #Denmark. We addressed the protection of critical infrastructure in #NATO countries. pic.twitter.com/GCRgVOTR2S
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) September 28, 2022
“Russia has a significant military presence in the Baltic Sea region and we expect it to continue its saber rattling,” Bodskov said, his press office told CNN.
The two discussed what Stoltenberg called “sabotage” on the Nord Stream pipelines and “addressed the protection of critical infrastructure in NATO countries,” Stoltenberg tweeted.
The Danish Defense Ministry said a total of three leaks – which according to European leaders cannot be ruled out as sabotage – have been discovered in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, respectively northeast and southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm.
These are two leaks in Nord Stream 1 and one in Nord Stream 2, the press office told CNN.
The Danish Maritime Authority issued a shipping advisory and established a prohibited area to ensure ships do not enter the areas near the leaks.
Ships may lose buoyancy if they enter the zone and there may be an ignition risk above the water and in the air, the press office said.
Subsequently, a prohibited zone with a radius of 5 nautical miles has been created for ships and a prohibited zone of 1 kilometer for aircraft.
“It is too early to draw conclusions about the causes of the incidents. But at the same time it is difficult to imagine that this is a pure coincidence. At this time we cannot rule out that it is a deliberate action,” Bodskov said.
“Obviously, this is a very serious matter. That is why we are taking the precautions we do and increasing our presence in the Bornholm area. Our authorities are doing everything possible to clarify the cause, in close collaboration with our partners,” he added. .
Bodskov’s office confirmed to CNN that it could be a week or two before the areas around the damaged Nord Stream leaks are calm enough to be investigated.
Numerous world leaders have raised concerns about the cause of the leaks, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling the pipeline leaks a “sabotage action” in a tweet on Tuesday.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said damage to pipelines is “very worrying”, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said if the leaks were the result of a attack, “that clearly does not interest anyone.