162 - February 2022 - Germany suspends Nord Stream 2: Q&A on what happens next

25 February 2022 - Germany suspends Nord Stream 2: Q&A on what happens next

 Those questions are: is Nord Stream 2 dead? Will Germany’s gas strategy change? How will it change the current official assessment of Germany and the EU’s security of supply? Can Nord Stream 2 AG sue Germany? Will Germany build its first LNG import terminal? What are the reactions from German and European Stakeholders?

1. What’s the significance of the decision to suspend the approval process? Is Nord Stream 2 dead?

...he decision does not necessarily mark the end of Nord Stream 2, which was completed in September 2021. For now, the government made use of a regulatory tool to halt the certification...

2. Does the German government reassess its position on natural gas with the decision?

... “Germany is and will remain an importing country for energy, even if the energy sources will be CO2-neutral in the long term,”...

3. What does the decision mean for supply security in Germany and Europe?

... Germany and many other European countries rely on Russian supplies to cover a high share of their energy needs. About half of Germany’s, and more than 40 percent of the EU’s, natural gas imports currently come from Russia and the country is also the main external supplier of coal and oil products to Europe. However, as Nord Stream 2 has not yet begun operation, stopping the pipeline’s completion alone would not mean any changes to current supply capacities...  the risk increases if the conflict and accompanying sanctions drag on until next winter. A straightforward response would be to reduce the amount of gas needed, rather than looking for new suppliers, the think tank concluded: “Whatever happens, the most efficient solution requires demand-side adjustments to reduce dependency on gas.”...

4. Can stopping Nord Stream 2 have legal repercussions for the German government?

If German authorities put a final stop to the use of the completed pipeline, the Nord Stream 2 company will likely resort to legal action. The German government could be faced with a compensation claim brought forward by the Nord Stream 2 AG operator...

...Before the court, the legitimate expectations of the plaintiff, for example positive signals given to Nord Stream 2 by receiving construction permits for the pipeline, are important arguments; while a changing political situation, even if caused by a crisis like the one in Ukraine, does not count as a valid argument, legal expert Gabriel Lentner told Tagesspiegel Background...

The ministry stressed that the supply security assessment (completed by the previous government in its very last weeks in office) is “based on an analysis of factual and legal fundamentals and can or must be adjusted in the event of a change in significant factual fundamentals” (Section 4b (3) EnWG). Both Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and patchy gas deliveries from Russia this winter are counting as such a change in “factual fundamentals”, minister Habeck indicated. How vulnerable the report will be to future legal action depends a lot on its actual wording and reasoning on how Nord Stream 2 endangers Germany’s supply security, legal experts told Die Welt. After the German government’s assessment, the European Commission also gets a say.

NOTE: [MRT: Read the full report] 

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)

161 - January 2022 - Biden, Blinken: Nord Stream 2 pipeline is ‘leverage’ for Europe against Russia

Anthony Blinken (left) and Sergei Lavrov met in Reykjavik, May 2021

20 May 2021 - Nord Stream 2: Biden waives US sanctions on Russian pipeline

The Biden administration has waived sanctions on a company building a controversial gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.

The US also lifted sanctions on the executive - an ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin - who leads the firm behind the Nord Stream 2 project.

The move came in a report on Russian sanctions delivered to Congress by the Department of State.

Critics say the pipeline is a major geopolitical prize for the Kremlin.

The project, which would take gas from the Russian Arctic under the Baltic Sea to Germany, is already more than 95% complete.

The Department of State report notes that Nord Stream 2 AG and its chief executive, Matthias Warnig, a former East German intelligence officer, engaged in sanctionable activity.

But it concludes that it is in the US national interest to waive the sanctions.

And Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the state-run Tass news agency as welcoming "a chance for a gradual transition toward the normalisation of our bilateral ties".

German officials also welcomed the sanctions waiver as "a constructive step" from the Biden administration.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters: "It's an expression of the fact that Germany is an important partner for the US, one that it can count on in the future."

*** FAST FORWARD ***

4 Jan 2022 - Nord Stream 2 go-ahead could come in mid-2022 - Uniper CEO

5 Jan 2022 - Blinken: Nord Stream 2 pipeline is ‘leverage’ for Europe against Russia

“This pipeline does not have gas flowing through it at present and if Russia renews its aggression toward Ukraine, it would certainly be difficult to see gas flowing through it in the future,” Blinken said. “So some may see Nord Stream Two as leverage that Russia can use against Europe. In fact, it’s leverage for Europe to use against Russia.”

Germany views the pipeline as an opportunity to diversify gas imports to Europe, but came to an agreement with the Biden administration in July that Berlin would impose costs on Russia if it weaponized Nord Stream 2, or committed aggressive acts against Ukraine.

Blinken and Baerbock said they both reaffirmed commitments to the July agreement in their bilateral meeting.

The agreement that was reached in July followed President Biden waiving sanctions on the pipeline’s project company Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of the Russian-owned company Gazprom.

9 Jan 2022 - The Secretary General of Germany's ruling party urged not to mix Nord Stream 2 with politics

13 Jan 2022 - Germany's foreign minister wants to keep Nord Stream II out of the Ukraine conflict

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht warns against confusing the disagreement over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline with the conflict over Ukraine.

13 Jan 2022 - Senate Rejects Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Bill

White House opposes proposal by GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, backs other bill  

14 Jan 2022 - On 55-43 basis, bipartisan majority of US Senate today voted to sanction #NordStream2 AG, 100% owned by Russian state-controlled Gazprom, to deter further Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

19 Jan 2022 - The Bundestag said that opposition to Nord Stream 2 threatens the EU's energy security

The project was and will remain primarily economic and energy, noted Steffen Kotre, member of the Bundestag Committee on Energy and Climate Affairs

"Different parties are trying, based on different motives, to mix together the importance of Europe's energy supply with geopolitical interests. This project was and will remain primarily economic and energy. Using it as a tool to achieve other political goals is wrong and jeopardizes Europe's energy supply,"

20 Jan 2022 - Blinken on Nord Stream 2 ahead of his meeting with Scholz tonight: 

"Nord Stream 2 is leverage for Germany, the United States and our allies"

27 Jan 2022 - Under Secretary Nuland Comments on Nord Stream 2

Under Secretary Victoria Nuland: “If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.”

30 Jan 2022 - German regulator expects decision on Nord Stream 2 operator’s certification after June

30 Jan 2022 - U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany will not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine.

"I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward," Price told NPR. "I'm not going to get into the specifics. We will work with Germany to ensure it does not move forward." 

4 Feb 2022 - EU Commission: “It is quite clear that Nord Stream 2 cannot be removed from the table as far as sanctions are concerned.”

6 Feb 2022 - SULLIVAN: Nord Stream 2 is leverage for us, not leverage for Vladimir Putin.

You said turn off Nord Stream 2. Nord Stream 2 hasn't been turned on. There is no gas flowing through Nord Stream 2 right now and there won't be for months, in part because of the diplomacy of the United States.

And we have been absolutely clear that if Russia invades Ukraine, one way or the other, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward. That's leverage for us that we have right now, so we intend to use that leverage and Vladimir Putin has a choice to make. If he chooses to move on Ukraine, he will not be getting the benefits of Nord Stream 2.

One of the things that President Biden has been very focused on is making sure that if Putin turns down the supply of gas to Europe, that we can find cargoes of liquefied natural gas going elsewhere in the world and redirect them to Europe. So the United States is prepared for a contingency against Russia 

7 Feb 2022 - Biden pledges end to Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine

8 Feb 2022 - If Nord Stream 2 Dies, What Will It Cost Russia? Where Will Europe Get Its Natural Gas?

When President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared at the White House yesterday, they made clear that Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be left to die on the political battlefield — if Russia invades Ukraine. But what will that cost Russia, and where would Europe get its natural gas?

Moscow relies on hydrocarbons for 60% of its national budget, while oil and gas make up nearly one-third of its gross national product. It already provides about 39% of Europe’s gas.

“If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be – there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said during the news conference. “We will bring an end to it … I promise you we will be able to do it.”

Chancellor Scholz followed those remarks by saying that the two NATO allies stand shoulder-to-shoulder: "We're one voice, and do things together and we made it very clear if there was military aggression against Ukraine, this will entail severe consequences that we agreed upon together.”

Nord Stream 2 is a companion to Russia’s Nord Stream 1 pipeline, and it allows Russia’s Gazprom to double its natural gas capacity headed to Europe. Russia exported 168 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe in 2020. Germany bought 56 billion cubic meters of that. Italy and the Netherlands followed with 20 billion and 11 billion, respectively.

09 Feb 2022 - Biden says he'll shut down Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia further invades Ukraine

"If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2,"

Biden said. "We will bring an end to it."

Asked how the U.S. would ensure that, Biden did not offer specifics:

"I promise you: We will be able to do it." It's a point Biden administration officials have stressed in recent weeks. 

23 Feb 2022 - Statement by President Biden on Nord Stream 2 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

• THE USA HAS NOT PLANNED PHYSICALLY KNOCK OUT NORDSTREAM 2
  
  
• THE USA HAD A DEAL WITH GERMANY ABOUT NON-CERTIFICATION
  
  
• THERE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE WITH NORDSTREAM 1, WHICH WAS NEVER EVEN SANCTIONED

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)

160 - January 2022 - Nord Stream 2 AG has founded a German subsidiary Gas for Europe Gmb

Gas for Europe GmbH

16 Nov 2021 - Cer­ti­fi­ca­tion pro­ce­dure for Nord Stream 2 sus­pend­ed

The Bundesnetzagentur has today suspended the procedure to certify Nord Stream 2 AG as an independent transmission operator.

Following a thorough examination of the documentation, the Bundesnetzagentur concluded that it would only be possible to certify an operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if that operator was organised in a legal form under German law.

Nord Stream 2 AG, which is based in Zug (Switzerland), has decided not to transform its existing legal form but instead to found a subsidiary under German law solely to govern the German part of the pipeline. This subsidiary is to become the owner and operator of the German part of the pipeline. The subsidiary must then fulfil the requirements of an independent transmission operator as set out in the German Energy Industry Act (sections 4a, 4b, 10 to 10e EnWG). 

26 Jan 2022 - Subsidiary for German section of Nord Stream 2 established, says project’s operator

Gas for Europe GmbH will become the operator of this section as an independent transport system operator in accordance with German law.

"Nord Stream 2 AG has founded a German subsidiary Gas for Europe GmbH. The new company is to become the owner and operator of the 54-kilometre section of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline located in the German territorial waters and the landfall facility in Lubmin, as an independent transmission operator in accordance with the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG)," according to the statement.

26 Jan 2022 - Nord Stream 2 AG has founded a German subsidiary Gas for Europe GmbH. The new company is to become the owner and operator of the 54km section of the NS2 Pipeline located in the German territorial waters and the landfall facility in Lubmin as an independent transmission operator in accordance with the German Energy Industry Act. 

This decision has been announced in November 2021 -  Gazprom Plans Fully Owned German Unit to Win Pipeline Consent. 

Gazprom's Nord Stream 2 AG established a German subsidiary Gas for Europe GmbH, so the GER regulator, BNetzA, can resume the certification process. It can take up to ~8 months.

Comment;

In 8 months it would be 28th of September

The Nordstream will be blown up on 26-27 Sept 2022

[MRT: Certification was reversed in February 2022 - posts here and several others. Overview here] 

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)

159 - Nordstream affair - The Opening Act

***

Truss: It is clear that we need to 

reduce Europe’s dependency 

on Russian gas ...

***

OTHER UK RELATED POSTS

most of the research about UK´s role, motives has been conducted in 2023

The summary is here:

121 - Hersh´s claim vs Hard data - and - Mortymer´s Nordstream hypothesis recap

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)

158 - Viktor Orbán on Nordstream affair: "under American direction"

This is part of Viktor Orbán´s speech about Nord Stream affair:

Orbán’s full speech here.

Speaking at the Tusvanos summer camp in Romania, Viktor Orbán said that:

"...The fifth important new lesson from reality: European policy-making has collapsed. Europe has given up defending its own interests: all that Europe is doing today is unconditionally following the foreign policy line of the US Democrats — even at the cost of its own self-destruction. 

The sanctions we have imposed are damaging fundamental European interests: they are driving up energy prices and making the European economy uncompetitive.

We let the blowing up of the Nord Stream pipeline go unchallenged;  

Germany itself let an act of terrorism against its own property — which was obviously carried out under US direction — go unchallenged, and we are not saying a word about it, we are not investigating it, we do not want to clarify it, we do not want to raise it in a legal context. 

In the same way, we failed to do the right thing in the case of the phone tapping of Angela Merkel, which was carried out with the assistance of Denmark. So this is nothing but an act of submission..."

...

Since the war broke out, a different centre and a different axis of power has been established. The Berlin–Paris axis no longer exists — or if it does, it has become irrelevant and liable to be bypassed. The new power centre and axis comprises London, Warsaw, Kiev/Kyiv, the Baltics and the Scandinavians.

Summary: Viktor Orbán does not state that the mission against Nordstream was executed bz the USA but is hinting that the USA was aware of it and green-lighted the mission done by someone else. This view is fully consistent with the investigation, evidence and data.

Note that he also states that "we let ... the crime ...unchallenged" as if it was some joint decision. This is again consistent with this investigation - this post.

 

[MRT - Thanks to Thomas Fazi and his article here from which the particular part about Nordstream is copied.]

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)

157 - Gazprom Export case - Uniper terminates Russian gas supply contracts

SUMMARY:

Uniper has successfully terminated its long-term gas supply contracts with Gazprom Export, securing over €13 billion in damages due to non-delivery of gas, as determined by an arbitration ruling.

In response, Gazprom is pursuing legal action against Uniper and other European companies in Russian courts to obstruct or counter international arbitration. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Contract Termination and Damages: Uniper has terminated its gas supply contracts with Gazprom Export and was awarded more than €13 billion in damages.

Binding Arbitration: The decision of the arbitration tribunal is both legally binding and final.

Gazprom's Legal Challenges: Gazprom is actively contesting these international arbitration proceedings in Russian courts, raising concerns about sanctions and the fairness of trials.

Counterclaims Filed: Gazprom has initiated several counterclaims against European companies in Russian courts to prevent international arbitration.

Significant Financial and Legal Implications: The Uniper case underlines the considerable financial impacts and legal intricacies resulting from Russia's reduction of gas supplies to Europe.

Future EU Gas Supply Impacts: This ruling could have profound implications for future gas supplies to the EU and ongoing negotiations.

Exploring Alternative Transit Routes: Various European stakeholders are evaluating alternative gas transit routes, including those through Ukraine.

DATA:

12 June 2024 - Düsseldorf, Uniper terminates Russian gas supply contracts

• Formal end to gas supply relationship with Gazprom Export after positive ruling for Uniper in arbitration proceedings 
• Arbitration tribunal has awarded Uniper the right to terminate its long-term gas supply contracts and an amount of more than €13 billion in damages for non-delivery of gas 
• Uniper CEO Michael Lewis: “The ruling provides legal clarity for Uniper” 

Uniper decided today to terminate its long-term Russian gas supply contracts and thus legally ended the long-term gas supply relationship with the Russian state-owned company Gazprom Export. The decision was made possible after an arbitration tribunal on June 7 awarded Uniper the right to terminate the contracts and awarded it an amount of more than €13 billion in damages for the gas volumes not supplied by Gazprom Export since mid-2022. Although only limited gas volumes had been delivered since June 2022 and no gas volumes since the end of August 2022, the long-term gas supply contracts between the two companies were still legally in force and individual contracts would have continued to exist until the mid-2030s.

After Uniper suffered substantial losses due to the Russian gas supply restrictions, the company initiated arbitration proceedings against Gazprom Export at the end of 2022. The option of dispute resolution via an arbitration tribunal was contractually agreed and had in the past in respect of other disputes been invoked repeatedly by both sides. The tribunal, seated in Stockholm, ruled in accordance with Swiss law. The arbitration ruling is legally binding and final.

7 May 2024 - Uniper appeals Russian court ruling as legal tussle with Gazprom drags on

Uniper, opens new tab has appealed a Russian court decision requiring the German utility to pay more than 14 billion euros ($15 billion) if it continues arbitration proceedings against its former main gas supplier Gazprom, opens new tab, it said on Tuesday.

24 May 2024 - Russian court bans Czech CEZ from disputing with Gazprom Export abroad

The Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region has upheld Gazprom Export's claim against the Czech Republic’s CEZ banning it from continuing foreign arbitration proceedings, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom.

In case of violation of the ban, the court ruled to recover 57.7 mln euro from the Czech company in favor of Gazprom Export.

 27 May 2024 - European court tells Gazprom not to run away from its responsibility for halting gas supplies

Gazprom's counter-claims

Since the end of last year, Gazprom Export has filed 11 counterclaims with the same arbitration court in St. Petersburg, Russia, against its former European customers and shippers.

The company has already obtained eight rulings in writing, ordering European companies to halt their international arbitration proceedings or pay penalties in Russia.

Russian arguments

In eight already rubber-stamped rulings, the court in St. Petersburg argued that the arbitration cases against Gazprom Export should be moved to Russia because Gazprom Export will be unable to have a fair trial in courts in so-called “unfriendly nations”.

In 2022, Moscow designated more than 50 foreign states as “unfriendly” after they approved wide-ranging sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian court has lashed out at European sanctions, saying in rulings that Russian lawyers who could have represented Gazprom Export in arbitration hearings in Europe face the denial of entry visas, while their laptops and smartphones may be confiscated by authorities on arrival. 

13 March 2024 - Russian court bans Uniper subsidiaries from disputing with Gazprom Export abroad

In case of violation of the ban, the court ruled to recover 14.3 billion euros from German companies in favor of Gazprom

Lawyers for Gazprom Export stated the impossibility of equal adversarial participation in foreign arbitration due to sanctions against Russia and Russian companies, as well as due to the lack of complete freedom to choose legal services, since some European law firms publicly announced their refusal to work with companies from Russia.

About legal dispute

In late November 2022, it became known that the German concern Uniper filed a lawsuit against Gazprom Export to compensate for losses incurred from the short supply of Russian gas. Uniper then estimated the current costs of replacing Russian gas at no less than 11.6 billion euros. The Russian company, in turn, stated that it was studying the received statement of claim from Uniper, but did not recognize the violation of contracts and the legality of the German company’s stated claims for damages.

Uniper considered the force majeure declared by Gazprom on gas supplies to be a violation of the contract. Since the end of August 2022, the German concern has completely stopped receiving gas from Russia and considers this a violation of contractual obligations on the part of Gazprom. Uniper stated that it does not expect the resumption of Russian gas supplies and is awaiting a decision in the court case with Gazprom Export due to their termination in 2024.

Previously, Gazprom also filed lawsuits in the Russian court against the Polish Orlen, the Dutch gas transport company Gasunie Transport Service (GTS), the Czech NET4GAS, Naftogaz of Ukraine and the Polish-Russian company Europol GAZ, which owns the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, demanding prohibit the continuation of arbitration proceedings in foreign courts. For the last three lawsuits, the Russian company achieved a ban on the continuation of arbitration, for the lawsuit against GTS, the court hearing is scheduled for March 15, for Orlen - for April 10. 

16 March 2023 -  Gazprom in arbitration proceedings with ENI, Engie, RWE, PGNIG, Gasum, Naftogaz - report

Ukraine's Naftogaz has requested arbitration against Gazprom at the International Chamber of Commerce's International Court of Arbitration. Naftogaz is demanding payment for services not rendered by it under an agreement on the provision of services for the transportation of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine dated December 30, 2019. On September 27, Gazprom sent letters of objection regarding arbitration's jurisdiction to consider the demands of Naftogaz due to a fundamental change in circumstances. On February 15, 2023, Gazprom was notified by the ICC secretariat about a decision by the ICA to allow the arbitration tribunal to consider the case on the merit. Gazprom currently has no information as to whether an arbitration tribunal has been formed.

Finland's Gasum Oy on May 13, 2022, notified Gazprom Export LLC that arbitration proceedings had commenced on the termination of the contract for natural gas supply dated March 12, 1994 and the cancellation of obligations to pay invoices previously served to it. A ruling was issued on November 14, 2022. Gasum's claims and Gazprom Export's counterclaims were partially satisfied. The arbitration tribunal, among other things, ordered Gasum Oy to pay Gazprom Export LLC debt of more than 300 million euros for gas supplies and in connection with the failure to honor a take or pay obligation, as well as interest for payment arrears. In addition, the tribunal recognized the issuance of a Russian presidential decree No. 172 dated March 31, 2022 on the transition to payment for gas in rubles as a force majeure circumstance under the contract and confirmed the legitimacy of the suspension of natural gas supplies in the event the buyer fails to pay in rubles in accordance with the Decree No. 172. The tribunal also ordered the parties to continue negotiations on the contract in order to resolve the situation with further gas supplies.

*******

12 June 2024 - ICIS VIEW: Uniper arbitration award could shape future EU gas supplies

Given the sheer size of the award and the estimated 25 billion cubic meters that Uniper imported annually from Russia before Gazprom Export curtailed them, there is no doubt that the steps taken by Uniper to recover the award could impact future gas supplies to Europe at least in the mid term.

The award made on 7 June came nearly three weeks after Austria’s OMV Gas Marketing and Trading, which has a long-term supply contract with Gazprom Export, said it had received a notice from an unnamed European company seeking to seize payments due to the Russian producer as part of a court ruling.

 FALLING PRODUCTION:

This makes it mindful of the fact that low production could lead to shut-ins with irreversible damage to gas wells.

The alternative for Uniper and Gazprom, therefore, might be to settle for an option where Gazprom would keep its production going while Uniper would receive the equivalent of the award’s financial value in natural gas deliveries.

The issue may in fact gather momentum as various European stakeholders are now considering the possibility of continuing the transit of gas through Ukraine once the existing agreement expires on 1 January 2025.

It may not be mere coincidence that just hours before Uniper announced the arbitration award, the German economy minister Robert Habeck said Europe was engaged in ‘intense’ work to keep gas flowing via Ukraine.

 

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)

156 - Nordstream affair - Does this mean the red phone is working again?

There is no real "RED PHONE"

It is more analogy for a secure direct de-escalation link.

[Extra: Small history lesson about the RED PHONE] 

SUMMARY:

This post raises concerns about potential legal repercussions for the US, UK, and Norway, while highlighting top level communication between the US and Russia through the so called "red phone" channel.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The blog asserts that the US had prior knowledge of the UK's intentions to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines but chose not to intervene, was unable, or started to cooperate with the perpetrator choosing the position suiting best its own strategy thus coordinating their moves along, synchronizing the UK´s mission plans but hidden in order not to alleviate its ally Germany, France and other EU states.

Would this hypothesis proven correct that the USA was in a position to stop the attack but has deliberately passed the responsibility to its allies or has consciously chosen not to do so could be an issue handled by the international court and it could also seriously upset the Trans-Atlantic alliance.

The author posits that there could be legal accountability for the actions of the US, UK, and Norway regarding this incident and that is also the reason for the media blanket over the case.

Communication channels between the US and Russia, notably the "red phone," are referenced in relation to the events.

It is suggested that the US took steps to de-escalate tensions with Russia in the lead-up to the Nord Stream incident.

The potential for legal actions is explored, including scenarios involving the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

 

DATA: 

 25 Sept 2022 - Meet the Press - National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Sara Fagen, Mike Memoli, Amna Nawaz and Jen Psaki

...Globally, the existential threat to democracy is Vladimir Putin, whose decision to invade Ukraine has produced the biggest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Putin is now threatening to use Russia's nuclear weapons, saying in a televised address, "This is not a bluff." President Biden responded at the United Nations. 

CHUCK TODD:

While you were talking, we were able to show some footage of people voting with – under the supervision of armed Russian guards, so just to give folks a taste of what kind of referendum this is. I want to talk about the nuclear threats from Vladimir Putin.There was a report this week that folks in the Biden administration have made it clear, privately, of the severe consequences. Does this mean the red phone is working again? Because at the beginning of this conflict there was a lot of concern that some of the basic communications that we had from military to military, intel to intel, you had a hard time getting your counterparts to return calls. Does this mean the red phone is working again?

JAKE SULLIVAN:

Well, Chuck, we've been careful to protect the timing and the content of the conversations we have with the Russian government, with the Kremlin.

But the answer to your question is yes.

We do have the capacity to speak directly at senior levels and to be clear about our messages to them and to receive their messages.

That has happened frequently over the course of the past few months.

It has happened even in just the last few days.

Update: 

20/11/2024 - RU: Peskov: "Red phone" between Moscow and Washington is not in use

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the special telephone line, which was established for communication between Moscow and Washington after the Cuban crisis, is currently not in use.

"We have a special secure line for communication between the two presidents - Russia and the USA. Moreover, even for video communication," said Peskov.

Summary (see also other posts) partial result, more research needed:

The USA started to de-escalate before the Nordstream affair happened.

The USA had a knowledge about the UK´s plan to blow up Nordstream pipelines

The USA did not stop the mission

The USA decided to step aside and protect NATO cohesion

This is why Russia later blamed Anglo-Saxons as guilty and not a single state. 

Legally:

The UK could be charged under Violation of sovereignty (Act of Aggression, Violation of the United Nations Charter), Sabotage or International Terrorism and/or Environmental damage.    

The USA and Norway could be charged under Complicity in Aggression, Failure to prevent, Neglecting duty to act.  

Legal Accountability and Consequences

1. International Court of Justice (ICJ):

• State Responsibility: Russia and Nordstream AG hareholders (the victim) could bring a case against States USA, Norway, and the main perpetrator the UK in the ICJ for violations of international law, including aggression and failure to prevent an unlawful act.

• United Nations Security Council (UNSC):

  • Security Council Action: The UNSC could be called upon to address the situation, potentially leading to sanctions or other measures against the UK, and possibly against other States for their roles.

• International Criminal Court (ICC):

• Individual Accountability: Leaders or individuals in the UK who planned and executed the "sabotage" (or the unlawful act) could potentially be prosecuted by the ICC for crimes of aggression or terrorism, depending on the circumstances and evidence.

RELATED POSTS:

113 - Russian nuclear positioning before the Nordstream is attacked

069 - Was Norway briefing USA about possible threat to undersea pipeline infrastructure on 19-09-2022?

094 - The USA de-escalates possible Russian nuclear response even before Nordstream is hit, NATO protect Trans-Atlantic alliance afterwards

 

199 - Consistency of Russian claims about Nordstream affair

***

- INDEX -

***

Uncovering the truth took over two years of self-funded, tireless investigation.

I decided to open it for free, no paywall, despite huge investment.
Because the truth matters.
Please consider supporting my work with a donation.

Every bit helps keep this mission alive!

mortymer001

(retweet and follow)