The geopolitical tremors caused by the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022 continue to reverberate. These twin pipelines, vital for transporting Russian natural gas to Europe, were struck by a series of underwater explosions in the Baltic Sea, rendering them inoperative. Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), has now alleged that the United States and the United Kingdom played a direct role in what he termed an act of “international terrorism.” His accusations have further strained the already deteriorated relations between Russia and the West.

On November 26, RT (Russia Today) published a breaking news report stating that Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), alleged during a meeting with security and intelligence agency leaders from former Soviet states that the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines was an act of “international terrorism” orchestrated by American and British intelligence agencies.

According to Naryshkin, the Nord Stream pipelines symbolized cooperation between Russia and European nations, particularly Germany. “Russia built it together with constructively minded Europeans, and the Anglo-Saxons blew it up,” he stated. He suggested that the attack was not a unilateral initiative but part of a bipartisan strategy pursued by successive US administrations to weaken Russia’s influence in Europe.

The allegations underscore a broader Russian narrative that the US was the primary beneficiary of the pipeline’s destruction. Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, have long maintained that the attack was designed to sever Europe’s reliance on Russian gas, compelling European nations to turn to alternative, and often costlier, sources of energy such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.

This view aligns with reports from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh, who alleged in early 2023 that President Joe Biden had personally authorized the operation to destroy Nord Stream. Hersh’s report claimed that US Navy divers planted explosives under the guise of NATO’s Baltops 22 military exercises in June 2022. Hersh’s unnamed source suggested that the operation aimed to demonstrate to Moscow the limits of its control over Europe.

The White House dismissed Hersh’s claims as “utterly false,” but the allegations have continued to cast a shadow over Western denials. Russian officials and commentators argue that the technical expertise and logistical capacity required for such an operation point to highly advanced militaries like those of the US and UK, which both had the means and the geopolitical motive.

The destruction of Nord Stream marked a turning point in Europe’s energy crisis. Designed to ensure a steady and affordable supply of natural gas from Russia to Europe, the pipelines were crucial for fueling European economies. Their abrupt destruction exacerbated energy shortages already worsened by the Ukraine conflict and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia.

The immediate aftermath saw European nations scrambling to secure alternative energy supplies. These often came from Middle Eastern nations or American LNG producers, at significantly higher costs. Germany, the primary beneficiary of Nord Stream’s natural gas, suffered the most acute economic fallout. Businesses and households faced surging energy prices, prompting dissatisfaction and political unease within the EU.

Critics of the US argue that the sabotage conveniently aligned with American strategic objectives. By eliminating Nord Stream, the US not only curtailed Russia’s energy leverage over Europe but also increased the EU’s dependency on American energy exports. This dependency has proven highly lucrative for US energy firms, even as it has strained the budgets of European governments and citizens.

For Moscow, the Nord Stream attack symbolizes the broader Western campaign to undermine Russia politically and economically. Russian officials have characterized the incident as part of a larger effort to isolate the country on the global stage. The destruction of the pipelines coincided with intensifying sanctions and a concerted push by NATO to counter Russia’s influence in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Naryshkin’s remarks suggest that Russia views the Nord Stream sabotage as more than an isolated event-it is a continuation of a Western strategy to weaken Russia’s geopolitical standing. He described the attack as emblematic of the “Anglo-Saxon” approach to global politics, which Moscow perceives as unilateral and aggressive.

The timing of the sabotage is also significant. Coming just months after the Ukraine war intensified, the attack eliminated one of Moscow’s critical economic levers over Europe. Without the ability to supply natural gas via Nord Stream, Russia lost a key tool for influencing European policies.

While the US and UK have categorically denied any involvement, their reluctance to provide alternative explanations has raised questions. The lack of transparency has fueled suspicions, both in Moscow and among some European allies. Germany, in particular, has expressed frustration over the economic losses incurred by the destruction of Nord Stream, which had been central to its energy strategy.

Some European politicians have privately questioned whether the sabotage served US interests at Europe’s expense. The rapid increase in American LNG exports to Europe post-sabotage has only heightened these suspicions. For many, the incident underscores the vulnerability of Europe’s critical infrastructure and its over-reliance on external actors for energy security.

The Nord Stream sabotage also highlights the increasingly contentious role of energy infrastructure in global geopolitics. Pipelines, once seen as symbols of cooperation and mutual dependence, have become targets in a world of growing rivalry. The attack on Nord Stream signals that even critical civilian infrastructure is no longer immune to geopolitical conflicts.

For the US and its allies, the allegations present a diplomatic challenge. If further evidence emerges to substantiate Russian claims, it could undermine Western credibility and strain relations with European allies. Conversely, Moscow’s inability to prove its accusations definitively allows Western nations to maintain plausible deniability, albeit at the cost of heightened mistrust.

The destruction of Nord Stream remains a pivotal moment in the post-Ukraine-conflict world order. Its implications extend far beyond the immediate energy crisis it triggered. The incident has deepened divisions between Russia and the West, reinforced narratives of economic warfare, and highlighted the fragility of global energy systems.

As Europe continues to adapt to its new energy reality, the Nord Stream sabotage serves as a cautionary tale. For Russia, it has accelerated the need to diversify energy partnerships, reducing reliance on Europe. For Europe, the incident has exposed the risks of over-dependence on external energy sources and the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure.

Whether the truth behind the Nord Stream sabotage will ever be fully uncovered remains uncertain. However, the event has already reshaped the geopolitical landscape, illustrating the lengths to which nations may go to secure their interests in an increasingly divided world.

In this context, the Nord Stream sabotage is not just an isolated act of destruction but a symbol of the broader geopolitical contest defining the 21st century. It underscores the dangerous interplay of energy, politics, and security in a world where alliances are fragile, and the stakes are extraordinarily high.

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