Admin l Friday, September 30, 2022
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO has attributed the damage to Nordstream 1 and Nordstream 2 pipelines in international waters in the Baltic sea to sabortage.
NATO, who said it is deeply concerned about the gas leakage in the Baltic sea as a result of the damage said the leaks are causing risks to shipping and substantial environmental damage.
NATO said it supports the investigation now underway to determine the origin of the damage. NATO spoke just as President Vladimir Putin attributes the damage to United States and its allies, stressing that the damaged pipelines are within their area of influence.
“The damage to the Nordstream 1 and Nordstream 2 pipelines in international waters in the Baltic Sea is of deep concern.
“ All currently available information indicates that this is the result of deliberate, reckless, and irresponsible acts of sabotage. These leaks are causing risks to shipping and substantial environmental damage. We support the investigations underway to determine the origin of the damage”, NATO said, adding that allies, have committed to prepare for, deter and defend against the coercive use of energy and other hybrid tactics by state and non-state actors.
“Any deliberate attack against Allies’ critical infrastructure would be met with a united and determined response”, it said in a statement.
Meannwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has met the group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, led by their President Iratxe García Pérez on Tuesday (27 September 2022).
Mr Stoltenberg stated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had unleashed the biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two, and challenged fundamental rules and values.
He strongly condemned Russia’s sham “referendums” organised in parts of Ukraine, as well as the partial mobilisation and nuclear sabre-rattling as escalations of the conflict.
The Secretary General said that NATO is not party to the conflict, even though Moscow is now trying to portray it as a war between Russia and NATO. In fact, the Secretary General made clear, “this is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and we are supporting Ukraine defend itself.”
He stressed that the right to self-defence is enshrined in the UN Charter, and Europe and North America must hold the course, despite the energy crisis triggered by Russia.
Mr Stoltenberg said that NATO is monitoring the situation in the Baltic Sea closely, Allies are looking into the gas leaks from both Nord Stream pipelines, and also exchanging information with Finland and Sweden.
