PREFACE/ISSUE
Who said it first?
Was it a "sabotage" or was it an act of "state terrorism"?
IF a state actor covertly attacks pipelines in the Baltic Sea, which are owned by two companies registered in Switzerland (Nordstream AG and Nordstream 2 AG), while the shareholder structure of Nordstream AG is 51% Gazprom, which itself is about 50%+ of shares owned by the Russian state. Nordstream 1's other shareholders are Germany's Wintershall Dea AG, PEG Infrastruktur AG (E.ON), N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and ENGIE, which together hold 49%. Nordstream 2 AG is wholly owned by Gazprom, with the same other shareholders only providing loans in the amount of 49%.:
The specific legal classification of the attack depends on the circumstances and context of the attack.
- If the attack was carried out by a state actor, it could be considered an act of aggression and a violation of the United Nations Charter, specifically Article 2(4), which prohibits the use of force by one state against another.
- In addition, if the attack targeted civilian infrastructure, it could be considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
Sabotage is generally defined as the intentional, deliberate damage or destruction of property for political or military purposes, and could be considered a Terrorist act if it causes harm to civilians or non-combatants.
An armed attack, on the other hand, generally involves the use of force by one state against another and is typically considered a violation of international law. However, the specific circumstances of the attack would have to be assessed to determine whether it meets the threshold for an armed attack under international law..
Legal aspect of the definition discussed here in another post:
"The Definition, Severity and Accountability of the Nordstream Affair"
21 Sept 2022 - UK Prime Minister Liz Truss addresses the United Nations General Assembly (transcript here)01:00 min: "...Geopolitics is entering a new era.."06:00 min: "We are cutting off the toxic power and pipelines from authoritarian regimes and strengthening our energy resilience.""We will ensure we cannot be coerced or harmed by the reckless actions of rogue actors abroad.""The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition.
We must do this together."
We are fortifying our deep security alliances in Europe and beyond through NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.
08:30 min: "The UK is providing funding, using the might of the City of London and our security capabilities to provide better alternatives to those offered by malign regimes.The resolute international response to Ukraine has shown how we can deliver decisive collective action.The response has been built on partnerships and alliances and also on being prepared to use new instruments – unprecedented sanctions, diplomatic action, and rapid military support.There has been a strength of collective purpose – we have met many times, spoken many times on the phone, we have made things happen.Now we must use these instruments in a more systematic way to push back on the economic aggression of authoritarian regimes.The G7 and our like-minded partners should act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity.If the economy of a partner is being targeted by an aggressive regime we should act to support them. All for one and one for all.
12:00 min "In all these areas, on all of the fronts, the time to act is now. This is a decisive moment in our history, in the history of this organization and in the history of freedom...
The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.
Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back.
In the face of rising aggression we have shown we have the power to act and the resolve to see it through.
But this cannot be a one-off.
This must be a new era in which we commit to ourselves, our citizens, and this institution that we will do whatever it takes – whatever it takes to deliver for our people and defend our values."
Britain’s commitment to this is total.
We will be a dynamic, reliable and trustworthy partner.
NOTE: The Nordstream had at this point zero flow to the UK as official data show here.
The D -4: Thursday 22/09/2022
22 Sept 2022 - US considers suspending ‘special relationship’ label after Liz Truss visit
“We'll shut it down until we can figure out what's going on.”
[M: More about US-UK issues with "special relationship" status in post here]
16 Sep. 2022 NATO issued Press Release:
NATO Secretary General to visit the USA 19-23 Sept 2022
23 Sept 2022 NATO issued Press Release:
On Monday 26 September 2022, the NATO Secretary
...General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, at the Berlaymont building of the European Commission. There will be no media opportunity.
[M: Assuming the timing, assuming Jens Stoltenberg has learned about the planned sabotage. It is his responsibility to inform the future victim - the EU. Assuming this was the case, who has informed him? The UK through NATO or USA official channels? Based on my research it was UK and so it makes him potentially complicit in covering up the affair being active participant of the plot - thus he is My suspect.]
26 Sept 2022 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
...met with Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General. (See the D -3 Friday 23/09/2022 urgent Stoltenberg´s request - NATO press release)
[M: The first sabotage was at 3am on Monday 26-09-2022 the second at 5pm 26-09-2022. The meeting was arranged on Friday 23-09-2022 and No journalists were allowed - based on NATO press release.]
26 Sept 2022 - UK, Russian defence officials meet in London;
26 Sep 2022 - 19:01 (19:01 GMT)
The UK’s chief of defence staff has held talks with the Russian defence attaché at the Ministry of Defence in London.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Colonel Maxim Elovik met as part of ongoing efforts to “strengthen military to military channels of communication” with Russia.
26 Sept 2022 - Sweden and Denmark say Nord Stream pipeline blasts were deliberate attacks
"It is the authorities' assessment that these are deliberate actions. It is not an accident," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday, hardening an assessment from earlier in the day. "The situation is as serious as it gets," she added in remarks carried on Danish media.Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson agreed: “We have Swedish information and we have also been in touch with Denmark, and based on this, we have concluded that this is likely a deliberate act, that is, it is likely an act of sabotage.”Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki went further and directly hinted at Russian involvement.
"We do not yet know the details of what happened, but we can clearly see that it is an act of sabotage," he said at a joint appearance with Frederiksen earlier in the day, calling it "the next stage in the escalation of the situation we are facing in Ukraine."
Dmitry Peskov said: "We cannot rule out any possibility right now. Obviously, there is some sort of destruction of the pipe. Before the results of the investigation, it is impossible to rule out any option."
"This is a completely unprecedented situation that requires an urgent investigation," he added.
At the German landfall, pipeline pressure was registering 7 bar, the German infrastructure regulator said on Monday.
"Today we were informed by the network operator Gascade that there has been a sharp drop in pressure in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline," the infrastructure regulator said in an emailed statement. "We still have no clarity about the causes and the exact facts."
A European Commission spokesperson said Tuesday: “At this stage, it’s very premature to speculate on what the causes are. As I said, we have been informed by the member states concerned, and the member states are looking into this issue. We will remain in close contact with them.”
26 Sept 2022 - Blasts precede Baltic pipeline leaks, sabotage seen likelyEuropean leaders and experts pointed to possible sabotage amid the energy standoff with Russia provoked by the war in Ukraine. Although filled with gas, neither pipeline is currently supplying it to Europe.“It is the authorities’ clear assessment that these are deliberate actions -– not accidents,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday. (M: news post was updated later, she did not say it was a sabotage yet)But she added “there is no information indicating who could be behind it.” Frederiksen rejected the suggestion that the incident was an attack on Denmark, saying the leaks occurred in international waters.
Day 2: Tuesday 27/09/2022
27 Sept 2022 - FM @RauZbigniew spoke today
with his
counterpart, FM of Denmark @JeppeKofod.
The foreign ministers ofand
27 Sept 2022 - Ursula von der Leyen: Spoke to @Statsmin Frederiksen on the sabotage action #Nordstream.
Paramount to now investigate the incidents, get full clarity on events & why. Any deliberate disruption of active European energy infrastructure is unacceptable & will lead to the strongest possible response.
[M: This is the very first high level politician who seemed to state publicly that it was an act of "sabotage" and not a "terrorist act". She is added to My suspects here.]
27 Sept 2022 - EU chief Von der Leyen says 'sabotage' behind Nord Stream pipeline leaks
27 Sept 2022 - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday
...that it would be "in no-one's interest" if attacks or acts of sabotage caused gas leaksdetected in the Nord Stream gas pipelines amid an energy standoff between Europe and Russia over gas supplies
27 Sept 2022 - Blinken Says Reports Indicate Nord Stream Leaks Were Sabotage“
There are initial reports indicating that this may be the result of an attack or some kind of sabotage, but these are initial reports and we haven’t confirmed that yet,” Blinken told a news conference alongside India’s Foreign Minister S. J...
27 Sept 2022 - READOUT - OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Danish Foreign Minister Kofod
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod today about the apparent sabotage along the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The United States remains united with our Allies and partners in our commitment to promoting European energy security.
27 Sept 2022 - Danish premier says ‘cannot rule out’ sabotage to Russian gas pipelines
27 Sept 2022 - Magdalena Andersson: Probably sabotage behind the Nord Stream leak
"Two detonations have caused three leaks,"
"It is probably a case of sabotage,"
"It is not a question of an attack on Swedish or Danish territory,"
But the security policy situation is affected, according to the government. Exactly how, however, is still unclear.
"That is precisely what we are currently analyzing, among other things, with all the Foreign Ministry's experts. The same thing is done at the Ministry of Defense and the Prime Minister has called the Security Policy Council tomorrow," says Ann Linde.
[M: Note that the environmental damage to Danish and Swedish fisheries, nature is downplayed. Note also how this is simultaneously becoming an issue of "National Security"]
27 Sept 2022 - Ukraine, Podolyak: Gas Leaks on Nord Stream 1 Pipeline is Russia’s Terrorist Attac
“ ‘Gas leak’ from NS-1 is nothing more that a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards EU. Russia wants to destabilize economic situation in Europe and cause pre-winter panic. The best response and security investment – tanks for Ukraine. Especially German ones…,” Podolyak wrote.
[M: The Ukrainian statement that it is a Russian terrorist act is in contradiction to EU sabotage framing. This "kind of" excludes Ukraine as a suspect. /deductive-logical.]
27 Sept 2022 - Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of LatviaIn a 📞 call with the Danish Foreign Minister @JeppeKofod I expressed Latvia’s solidarity with #Denmark over deliberate attacks on #Nordstream I & II pipelines, thanked for un update on the investigation. NATO and EU should take this seriously and respond accordingly 🇱🇻🇩🇰
27 Sept 2022 - Polish diplomacy in English - @PolandMFA
Min. @RauZbigniew spoke today 📞 with his 🇩🇰 counterpart, min. Danish Armed Forces @JeppeKofod
The topic of conversation, Mr. foreign affairs 🇵🇱 and 🇩🇰 explosions were recorded in the Baltic Sea near the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
27 Sept 2022 - 11:07 p.m .: Selenskyj asks Scholz for more weapons and stricter sanctions
In addition to the Scholz phone call, during which, according to Selenskyj, the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline was discussed, the Ukrainian President reported on further talks - and thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his mediation in the prisoner exchange and military cooperation . He thanked US President Joe Biden for the new military aid of over 1.1 billion dollars.
27 Sept 2022 - Charles Michel: #Nordstream sabotage acts appear to be an attempt to further destabilize energy supply to EU.We need an urgent and thorough investigation.Those responsible will be held fully accountable and made to pay.Our efforts to diversify energy supply away from Russian gas continue.
[M: Note that he mentions "further diversification" which is much the UK line proposed and promoted for more than a year. What if that the suspect was known before it happened? What if that the suspect already pre-agreed some offsetting "payments"?]
27 Sept 2022 - NATO Secretary General at EU Parliament: stay the course on Ukraine
27 Sept 2022 - NATO Secretary General convenes top Alliance procurement officials
[M: Among them should be Alec Shellbrook who was seen in Faslane/Clyde submarine base a few days after this meeting. Based on my research he is high in the chain of command toward the suspected Special Board Services DTXG demolition team Russia has accused of being involved.]
28 Sept 2022 - The Russian Federation opened a criminal case under an article on international terrorism (part 1 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
from contracts in Denmark we concluded it was a deliberate act.
28 Sept 2022 - Jeppe Kofod @JeppeKofod, DK
The explosions in #BalticSea have our full attention. Fruitful talk w/ friend & colleague @SecBlinken tonight 🇺🇸🇩🇰. We’re coordinating the situation closely with US & other allies, including on next steps. We will get to the bottom of these incidents and act on them together #dkpol
28 Sept 2022 - Francia Diplomacia 🇫🇷🇪🇺 @francediplo_ES
❝I conveyed to my colleagues @JeppeKofodour solidarity against the gas pipeline leaks #Nordstream . What appears to be a deliberate act must be clarified. Unity and firmness of Europeans against any act against an energy infrastructure
.❞
28 Sept 2022 - Sweden's PM says Nord Stream leaks seen as deliberate acts
Magdalena Andersson told a news conference the Swedish government was in close contact with partners such as NATO and neighbors such as Denmark and Germany concerning the developments.
"It is not a matter of an attack on Swedish or Danish territory. But that said, the government is taking what happened very seriously, not the least in light of the current security situation on our close proximity."
28 Sept 2022 - US Secretary Antony Blinken
I spoke with Danish Foreign Minister @JeppeKofod today about the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 apparent sabotage. We remain committed to promoting European energy security.
[M: DK Jeppe Kofod vs Antony Blinken - see definition "incidents" vs "apparent sabotage"]
28 Sept 2022 - Magdalena Andersson: Nord Stream leaks most likely sabotage
[M: It looks like Blinken suggested the framing as "sabotage"?]
28 Sept 2022 - Ann Linde: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Participated in @TV4 @Nyhetsmorgon earlier today about the leaks in the gas pipelines Nordstream 1 and 2. Please see the entire interview with me here: link
Late last night, the government held a press conference where Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that the gas leaks at Nord Stream 1 and 2 are a deliberate act and are probably a matter of sabotage.
Foreign Minister Ann Linde (S) emphasizes that the gas leak in the Baltic Sea is not an attack on Denmark or Sweden.
- It is an event in a strategically important area, so all EU countries are interested and express concern about what has happened. The EU will draw up a joint statement, says Ann Linde in Nyhetsmorgon.
28 Sept 2022 - Josep Borrell: Damage to Nord Stream 1 & 2 are not a coincidence and affect us all.
All available information indicates leaks are the result of a deliberate act.
Deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response.
[Note the difference between Josep Borrell and Charles Michel statements.]
28 Sept 2022 - Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on leaks in the Nord Stream gas pipelines
The European Union is deeply concerned about damage to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that has resulted in leaks in the international waters of the Baltic Sea.
Safety and environmental concerns are of utmost priority. These incidents are not a coincidence and affect us all.
All available information indicates those leaks are the result of a deliberate act. We will support any investigation aimed at getting full clarity on what happened and why, and will take further steps to increase our resilience in energy security.
Any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response.
Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for energy, said her team was in contact with member states to "determine the cause and ecological impact of the incidents."
There was no immediate impact on the bloc's energy supplies, Simson noted.
28 Sept 2022 - EU proposes fresh sanctions on Russia after 'sham referendums' in Ukraine
Ursula von der Leyen said the sanctions would provide the "legal basis" for the G7 price cap on Russian oil.
The European Union aims to impose a price cap on Russian oil and further restrict commercial links with Moscow with a fresh package of sanctions announced on Wednesday by Ursula von der Leyen.
[M: New sanctions helped to shape anti Russian mood in case of Nordstream. There was no pause for investigation or any other hesitancy to see who was behind.]
28 Sept 2022 - Fresh EU sanctions will "make Kremlin pay" for escalating in Ukraine -von der Leyen
28 Sept 2022 - Russia has escalated the invasion of Ukraine to a new level.
And we are determined to make the Kremlin pay the price for this further escalation. Today, we are proposing a new package of biting sanctions against Russia
28 Sept 2022 - The Brief — Beware of sabotage actsBoth European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel have called it sabotage, while the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said “these incidents are not a coincidence” and “all available information indicates those leaks are the result of a deliberate act”.
28 Sept 2022 - US Secretary Antony Blinken: I spoke with Danish Foreign Minister @JeppeKofod today about the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 apparent sabotage. We remain committed to promoting European energy security.
28 Sept 2022 - Jens Stoltenberg on his twitter:
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.
28 Sept 2022 - US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have now both characterized the incident as an act of sabotage, but European officials have not yet publicly identified a culprit.
28 Sept 2022 - EU Council of the EU - Press release
Declaration by the EU High Representative on behalf of the European Union on leaks in the Nord Stream gas pipelines
The European Union is deeply concerned about damage to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that has resulted in leaks in the international waters of the Baltic Sea.
Safety and environmental concerns are of utmost priority. These incidents are not a coincidence and affect us all.
All available information indicates those leaks are the result of a deliberate act. We will support any investigation aimed at getting full clarity on what happened and why, and will take further steps to increase our resilience in energy security.
Any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response.
28 Sept 2022 - 8:16 p.m - According to its own statements,...
...the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has initiated proceedings for international terrorism because of the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines.
"No later than September 26, 2022, in the area of the island of Bornholm, intentional acts aimed at damaging the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines laid on the Baltic Sea floor were committed," the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said on Wednesday on its Telegram channel.
Moscow justified the step by saying that the damage to the pipelines had "inflicted considerable economic damage on Russia".
Gazprom pumped gas to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline until the end of August, but then stopped these deliveries, citing technical problems that allegedly could not be solved due to sanctions.
The federal government called the reason advanced and suspected political motives behind the delivery stop.
[M: This statement is very crucial, the legal definition of the act matters a lot - IF it is considered an act against another state then it could be legaly handled as act of terrorism, if it is an act only against private companies Nordstream AG & Nordstream 2 AG then it would be some "Great Sabotage" - see details in separate post here]
Day 4: Thursday 29/09/2022
29 Sept 2022 - Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the damage to gas pipelines, Press Release (2022) 129The NATO Invitees associate themselves with this Statement.1. 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.
2. We, as 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.[M: The "NATO Invitees" means here Finland and Sweden]
29 Sept 2022 - Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., Officer in Charge, Republic of the Philippines Department of National Defense, Hold a News Conference in Hawaii
Q: Two questions for Secretary Austin. First, on the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, NATO called the incident sabotage overnight, what are your views on this?
A: That was about eight questions as I counted them, but to your first question, in terms of the attack or the damage to the pipeline, at this point I think there's a lot of speculation but quite frankly until complete investigation is done, no one will be able to really determine for certain what happened. I had the opportunity to speak with my counterpart in Denmark yesterday. We talked about what happened and he pointed out to me that it will be several days before he's able to get the right team in to look at the sites and really try to determine as best possible what happened. And so until that -- until we get further information or able to do further analysis, you know, we won't speculate on who may have been responsible. And certainly I offered to provide any assistance that the United States may provide.
29 Sept 2022 - NATO Threatens Retaliation After Gas Leaks It Says Were Likely Sabotage
The NATO military alliance warned Thursday it would retaliate for any attacks on the critical infrastructure of its 30 member countries and joined other Western officials in citing sabotage as the likely cause of damage to two natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
The fear of further damage to Europe's energy infrastructure has added pressure on natural gas prices, which had already been soaring. Russia, a major supplier to Europe, cut off deliveries earlier this year in retaliation for sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. That has caused widespread economic pain across the continent.
[M: This post elaborates on the issue of sanctions on Nordstream 2 AB and its boomerang effect on EU energy security]
NATO ambassadors said in a statement that “any deliberate attack against allies’ critical infrastructure would be met with a united and determined response.” They refrained from saying who they thought was responsible, even though some allies like Poland, and many experts, have said they believe that Russia is responsible.
“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,” the envoys said.
29 Sept 2022 - Putin told Erdogan he regarded Nord Stream emergency as act of international terrorism.
"The Russian president gave a principled assessment of the unprecedented sabotage, which is in fact an act of international terrorism against the main gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. It was noted that Russia is bringing this issue up for urgent discussion in the UN Security Council," the statement reads.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slammed the incidents as sabotage, pointing out that any "deliberate disruption of the European energy infrastructure is unacceptable and will lead to the strongest possible response".
The Kremlin said on Thursday that incidents on two major undersea gas pipelines from Russia to Germany look like acts of state-sponsored "terrorism".
"This looks like an act of terrorism, possibly on a state level," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a daily call.
29 Sept 2022 - Russia says Nord Stream likely hit by state-backed 'terrorism'
"This looks like an act of terrorism, possibly on a state level," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding: "It is very difficult to imagine that such an act of a terrorism could have happened without the involvement of a state of some kind".
[M: See the difference in framing the affair: NATO/EU = Sabotage, RU = Terrorist act. See my post about it here]
He dismissed media reports about Russian warships spotted in the area as “stupid and biased,” adding that “many more aircraft and vessels belonging to NATO countries have been spotted in the area.”
[M: Both Russia and Wester allies have been conducting what looks like comprehensible anti-submarine operations in Baltics - post here, here, here]
29 Sept 2022 - Russia to request UN Security Council meeting over Nord Stream pipeline damage
29 Sept 2022 - On the #NordStream pipeline sabotage @NATO has issued a statement affirming its readiness to defend threats to its members and their critical infrastructure
🇩🇰 @jensstoltenberg has visited Denmark and met with its defence minister
@mfMorten in the wake of this incident.
30 Sept 2022 - Jens Stoltenberg Tweet: Spoke with Prime Minister
@jonasgahrstore on further support to #Ukraine. I thanked him for #Norway's important contributions. We also addressed the sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline, enhanced #NATO vigilance & closer cooperation on protecting critical infrastructure.
30 Sept 2022 - Press point with NATO Secretary General Jens StoltenbergThen on the on the on the pipelines. Yes, I spoke with Chancellor Scholz today. We addressed of course the sabotage against Nordstream One and Nordstream Two. This is very serious, big explosions destroying two pipelines. We support also the efforts which are ongoing, efforts of investigation to reveal the facts and to determine who was behind these attacks.NATO and NATO Allies are present with naval capabilities, with planes in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea.
And of course, this sends a message of Allies and NATO readiness to protect and defend each other, also critical infrastructure. These Allies, these capabilities, these planes, these ships are also collecting information, data, which can be helpful both for the ongoing investigation but also to monitor these critical energy infrastructures.
And we are stepping up our sharing of intelligence, sharing of information. MARCOM, our Maritime Command in Northwood is collecting a lot of this information.And we are also actually reviewing some of the data we have already collected over the last weeks and months, to see that when we looked through those data again, whether we were able to discover something connected to the attacks on the two pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
It also highlights the importance of the work which is ongoing in NATO to strengthen the resilience, including resilience of critical infrastructure. So a military presence to send the message of deterrence, to collect and monitor and collect data and monitor the infrastructure.
And then, share information, and step up resilience are the most important ways NATO and NATO Allies are now supporting each other to prevent anything similar to happen to any other critical energy infrastructure.
30 Sept 2022 - Jens Stoltenberg Tweet: Good call with @BundeskanzlerOlaf Scholz. Thanked him for #Germany's continued support to #Ukraine at this critical time. We also discussed the Nordstream sabotage. We support ongoing investigations & enhanced #NATO vigilance.
30 Sept 2022 - US president Joe Biden has said damage to Nord Stream was a deliberate act of sabotage.
30 Sept 2022 - Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
...In the wake of the apparent sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, they discussed protection of critical infrastructure... They also discussed other global challenges and looked forward to the upcoming meeting of NATO defense ministers.
30 Sept 2022 - We have evidence West involved in 'sabotage' of Nord Stream pipelines: Russian spy chief
"We have materials that point to a Western trace in the organisation and implementation of these terrorist acts," the Interfax news agency quoted Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, as saying on Friday.
30 Sept 2022 - statement by Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, Sergey Naryshkin
🇷🇺 L'intelligence russa è in possesso di materiale che indica un coinvolgimento occidentale nell'"attacco terroristico" ai gasdotti #NordStream 1 e 2. Lo ha annunciato ai giornalisti il capo del Servizio di intelligence estero della Federazione Russa, Sergei Naryshkin
🇷🇺 Russian intelligence is in possession of materials indicating Western involvement in the "terrorist attack" on gas pipelines #NordStream 1 and 2. This was announced to reporters by the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, Sergey Naryshkin
30 Sept 2022 - US Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with Swedish Foreign Minister Linde
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde today about the apparent sabotage along the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.
30 Sept 2022 - Ann Linde: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
The explosions which caused the leaks from Nord Stream pipelines are of great concern and it is necessary to establish their cause.
30 Sept 2022 - Ann Linde - Sveriges fd utrikesminister. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Yesterday, 🇸🇪 and 🇩🇰 shared a joint letter with the @UN Security Council members sharing the known facts of the Nord Stream explosions ahead of today’s meeting. Important that the discussion remains fact-based. @JeppeKofod
[M: How is it possible that DK, SWE are still unsure how to define what happened while others are already promoting it is a "sabotage"??? Based on them: "deliberate act".]
On 1 October, the Prime Minister will travel to London and Brussels to discuss the destruction on Nord Stream 1 and 2.
30 Oct 2022 - Joint Statement
We, the Nordic Ministers of Defence are deeply concerned about the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in international waters in the Baltic Sea. All information currently available points to a deliberate act of sabotage close to the national borders of Denmark and Sweden.
It cannot be ruled out that this is a reckless attack on Europe’s energy infrastructure and an attempt to destabilise the already tense security situation. The leaks from the pipelines are causing risks to civilian sea-traffic and substantial environmental damage.
Finland, Iceland and Norway stand ready to support Denmark and Sweden by any means possible in the investigation of the incident. We are in close contact with each other regarding the incident and the overall security situation in the Baltic Sea region and beyond.
Furthermore, the Nordic countries are determined in our support to Ukraine. We will not recognise the results of the illegal referenda or annexations.
1 Oct 2022 - DK PM Frederiksen [London, morning]
Statsministeriet @Statsmin· Oct 1, 2022 PM Frederiksen has arrived in London and will meet UK PM @trussliz. The damage to #Nordstream is on the agenda.
01 Oct 2022 - Nord Stream pipeline blasts ‘clearly an act of sabotage’, says Truss
A series of explosions which caused major damage to Russia’s undersea Nord Stream gas pipelines were “clearly an act of sabotage”, Liz Truss has said.
However, in a speech on Friday, the Russian leader claimed “Anglo Saxons” were responsible for the “terror attacks”, which he described as an attempt to “destroy the European energy infrastructure”.
Following Ms Truss’s meeting with Ms Frederiksen, a No 10 spokesman said: “The leaders stressed the need to stay united in the face of Russia’s despicable action in Ukraine.
“They agreed the incidents were clearly an act of sabotage. The Prime Minister offered the UK’s support for the ongoing investigation.”
Speaking to reporters outside No 10, Ms Frederiksen said: “One of the reasons why I’m here today is because of the situation in the Baltic Sea, with Nord Stream 1 and 2.
“I was able to give some details about what has happened in Denmark, or just outside Denmark.
“This is sabotage and it is critical infrastructure. So of course, this is a very serious situation.”
1 Oct 2022 - Jens Stoltenberg + @Statsmin PM Mette Frederiksento address the sabotage on the Nordstream pipelines. #NATO Allies will continue our close cooperation on resilience & protection of critical infrastructure. I also thanked her for #Denmark's key contributions to #Ukraine at this pivotal moment. [Brussels, NATO HQ, afternoon]
1 Oct 2022 - Charles Michel: Met with @Statsmin in Brussels.
Sabotage of #Nordstream pipelines is a threat to the EU.We are determined to secure our critical infrastructure.Leaders will address this at the upcoming summit in Prague.
1 Oct 2022 - DK PM Frederiksen:
“The damage to #Nordstream is not accidental and must be thoroughly investigated. Serious situation for Europe. Securing critical infrastructure is as important as ever.
Thank you @CharlesMichel. Strong partnerships are key going forward.”
1 Oct 2022 - Ann Linde: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Members of @UN Security Council expressed great concern about the Nord Stream explosions. Facts are needed as all available information indicate that this is the result of deliberate acts. Investigations by 🇸🇪🇩🇪🇩🇰 are now being launched to bring full clarity to these incidents.
1 Oct 2022 - Ann Linde: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Spoke with@DeputySecState Wendy Sherman yesterday about the Nord Stream detonations. Grateful for
1 Oct 2022 - For the European Political Community, meeting is the message
European Union leaders will discuss the security of crucial infrastructure when they meet in Prague next week following damage to the Nord Stream pipelines that many in the West have said was caused by sabotage.
[M: Based on my research it looks like the main topic of the Prague meeting was if to cover up UK or not, how to move forward. I will make post about this showing how the meeting shaped the answer to the Nordstream affair, strengthened West position that this was an act of sabotage, not a terrorist act.]
2 Oct 2022 - ? .... How is it possible that from now on majority of EU top politicians define the act as a "sabotage"?
3 Oct 2022 - Blinken Says Nord Stream Sabotage Is a ‘Tremendous Opportunity’
The secretary of state says it's an opportunity to remove Europe's dependency on Russian energy.
[M: Looks like very much the position UK had for months or years - compare to many similar UK statements]
3 Oct 2022 - Jonas Gahr Støre: Pleased to talk to @vonderleyen.
...Agree that the sabotage actions against #Nordstream is unacceptable, and that high energy prices is a challenge for our continent. Norway will remain a reliable provider of energy for the EU.
6 Oct 2022 - On Thursday the Swedish security service (Säpo)
...issued a statement saying that the first inspections at the site of the leaks, which began over the weekend, had "increased the suspicion of aggravated sabotage." ... "The continuation of the preliminary investigation must show whether someone can be implicated and then prosecuted,"
6 Oct 2022 - SWE: Strong suspicion of gross sabotage in the Baltic Sea
6 Oct 2022 - PM Liz Truss: Time to find common cause with our European friends
Security, energy and migration are three of the most urgent priorities for the British people, so they are top of my agenda too. That’s why I am travelling to Prague for today’s European leaders’ meeting.
Today’s meeting is not an EU construct or an EU alternative. I am very clear about that. It brings together governments from across Europe, around a third of whom are outside the EU. A post-Brexit Britain, as an independent country outside the EU, should be involved in discussions that affect the entire continent and all of us here at home. We are taking part as an independent sovereign nation, and we will act as one.
Brexit was never about the UK stepping away from our proud and historic role as a leading nation in the region and beyond. We always believed we would find new ways of working that reflected our shared values and interests.
Our actions in Ukraine have shown this to be true. No European country has done more than the UK to arm the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom and to lead the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia. Yet our actions are all the stronger because of the way that we collaborated with our European friends.
6 Oct 2022 - Meeting of the European Political Community
The first meeting of the European Political Community brought together leaders from across the continent in a spirit of unity on 6 October 2022 in Prague, ahead of the informal meeting of EU heads of state or government.The European Political Community aims to:
- foster political dialogue and cooperation to address issues of common interest
- strengthen the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent
[M: To me this looks like forming united response to someone blowing up of European energy artery- My claim is that at this point it was known who was it - my claim is that UK was behind the act.]
7 Oct 2022 - Informal meeting of heads of state or government
Main results
EU leaders met in Prague to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and its impact on the energy situation in Europe, including its economic ramifications.
Remarks by President Charles Michel following the informal meeting of the EU heads of state or government in Prague
[M: Note that him and Ursula von der Leyen are, based on available data, prime suspects of cover-up as they were the very first to frame and define the attack as "sabotage" not the "terrorist attack". See my post about it here.]...This gives me the opportunity to say a word about yesterday’s meeting - a historic meeting because, for the first time, the countries of the European continent, 44 countries that share the same ambition to work together for peace, prosperity and stability, had the opportunity to meet for the first time in this new format......We have taken decisions to strengthen the sanctions imposed against Russia as we need to increase pressure on the Kremlin. In addition, both today and yesterday, we stressed the importance of reaching out to third countries in order to counter the Russian narrative....
...We have also had the opportunity today, in this informal meeting of the European Council, to address this fundamental issue of the energy situation. Let us be clear, we all understand that Russia has unleashed a war against the Ukrainian people, who are suffering from this war on a daily basis and who are courageously fighting for the values we share and for their own future, but also for the future of the European project and of Europe itself. Indeed, Russia has launched an energy missile against the European continent and the world. We are facing an energy crisis....[M: To sum it up... We are united... We impose more sanctions ... We are in energy crisis together... This looks to me like a joint decision / policy of a coordinated cover-up.]
We have had the opportunity to address three issues that we feel are extremely important and for which European action is indispensable. Firstly, it is important to take action to reduce consumption and demand. Initial decisions have been taken on the initiative of the European Commission, and thanks to the rapid work done by the Czech Presidency, we will continue to ensure that consumption is reduced.The second point is the question of security of supply. We have been working for some months now to ensure that stocks can be built up as much as possible. This is a good step, and it is important. Since before the summer, we have also been discussing the importance of gradually setting up platforms for the joint purchase of energy resources. We had the opportunity to revisit this subject today, and we perceived increasing support for continuing to make progress. Especially, for example, to be able to replenish stocks when it becomes necessary to do so again. This is one of the examples that were mentioned, for which the Commission has made proposals in its roadmap.
[M: Well, the UK has been really preparing for this day in advance, changing its energy security strategy several times, post Brexit and it paid out, it became net energy exporter later on. Considering it is a prime suspect of the sabotage this is, in my opinion, quite a reason to suspect EU top politicians for a treason]
The third element is the question of prices. This is having a painful impact on families and on households. It may also be painful for our businesses, and it has an economic impact. I would also like to say today that we felt a shared desire on the part of European leaders to be mobilised with a common ambition to reduce the price of energy resources and to work with the Council and the European Commission, so that this Council meeting must be seen today as a strategic step leading towards the next European Council, which should be an opportunity to move forward in terms of taking the required measures into consideration.[M: Families and households are collateral damage.]
Countering Russian narratives
Russia’s war against Ukraine is having huge consequences that go beyond Europe, including in terms of the global food security crisis. In this context, EU leaders stressed the importance of reaching out to third countries to counter Russian narratives and expressed their determination to support their partners across the world in addressing food security issues.
[M: So what if this was NOT Russia? Does it mean EU is actively pursuing a goal of covering-up?]
7 October 2022 - European Council President Charles Michel: Russia has launched an energy missile against the European continent and the world.
10 Oct 2022 - Sweden says it won't share Nord Stream findings with Russia
10 Oct 2022 - Sweden Nixes Russian Participation In Nord Stream Gas Pipeline Leak Investigation
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on October 10 that while Russia would not be allowed to join the investigation, Stockholm would invite a joint EU probe and Moscow was free to carry out its own inspections of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines.
11 October 2022 - NATO Doubles Naval Presence in Baltic, North Seas After Pipeline Sabotage
...NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday warned Russia against any future attacks on NATO critical infrastructure. “Allies are also increasing security around key installations and stepping up intelligence and intelligence-sharing,” he said ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels. “We will take further steps to strengthen our resilience and protect our critical infrastructure. Any deliberate attack against allies’ critical infrastructure would be met with a united and determined response.”11 Oct 2022 - Olaf Scholz on TW: Putin uses energy as a weapon,
...also against us. At the latest with the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, one thing is clear: in the foreseeable future, energy supplies from Russia can no longer be expected. We must and we will end this dependency as soon as possible.
12 Oct 2022 - Russia claims attack on NordStream is "act of state terrorism" .
"The recent terrorist attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines was aimed at undermining the energy security of the entire continent", Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
[M: It looks like NATO is still expecting Russian response in kind for one of their members destroying Nordstream pipelines]
18 Oct 2022 - Are sabotage of submarine pipelines an ‘armed attack’ triggering a right to self-defence?
A main difficulty in situations such as the damage on the NordStream pipelines, is that the State invoking the right to self-defence bears the burden of proving the facts showing the existence of such an attack against it by a particular State (International Court of Justice (‘ICJ’), Oil Platforms (2003), [51]). In this connection, generic announcements that an attack or other incident will take place prior to the explosions are insufficient evidence to support that any subsequent attack is the work of the State making such public statements (Oil Platforms, [60]).
An ‘Armed Attack’ against Whom? According to the ICJ in Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua (1986) [191], as well as in Oil Platforms [51], an ‘armed attack’ involves ‘the most grave forms of the use of force’. ‘Other less grave forms’ of use of force do not meet this threshold. In Nicaragua, the Court had considered the distinction between an ‘armed attack’ and mere ‘frontier incidents’, and relied on the following criteria to draw this distinction: the ‘scale and effects’ of the attack [195], and the ‘circumstances and motivations’ of the attack [231]. The ‘scale and effects’ criterion is particularly relevant for assessing whether blowing-up major transboundary pipelines may constitute an ‘armed attack’.
However, whether attacks on pipelines on the continental shelf and the EEZ as well as on the high seas, would constitute ‘the most grave form’ of use of force qualifying as an ‘armed attack’ against a particular State (or States) is not straightforward.Separately, although pipelines do not have flags, like vessels, they are owned and operated by companies incorporated in some State jurisdiction.The question arises whether States in whose jurisdiction the company that owns and/operates the pipeline are incorporated may be the victim of an ‘armed attack’ against the pipeline, giving rise to its right to self-defence. In the case of NordStream, this would be Switzerland.
[M: The attacker KNEW very well the legal difference between the attack near the the CS and EEZ. There are important points WHY it was done there. One can find hint of who could be involved and why.]
December
11 December 2022 - Olaf Scholz: The attack on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea...showed that our critical infrastructure must be protected more comprehensively. The @NATO should take on more tasks in protecting the critical infrastructure in the sea, @jensstoltenberg and I agree on that.
- It does look like the decision that the Nordstream case if framed/defined as a "sabotage" came from two top EU officials.
- If it was Russian there was no reason why it would not be framed a terrorist act against European people. Framing Russia would enable to seize Russian assets.
- It looks like European leaders have chosen to side with saboteurs keeping the identity of the them secret early in October during unofficial Prague meeting
(no official records/ meeting minutes are done as in normal meetings). - Concrete steps were planned how to handle the energy crisis keeping the pressure on Russia unchanged.
1. Searches I used in Twitter:
Examples of queries:
(sabotage OR Nordstream OR Nord OR Stream) (from:vonderleyen)(sabotage OR nordstream) (from:jensstoltenberg)
2. Searches in Major media news:
I searched a day by day many articles for appearances of "sabotage" framing
[M: Note: This post is active, new info is added as I find more occurrences/data.]
The definition, severity and accountability of the Nordstream Affair
UPDATE 04/04/2022
[M: Update from 04/04/2022 - Exclusive: German insurers renew cover for blast-damaged Nord Stream gas link, this news has huge implications (!)]
046 - The Definition (of the crime), the Severity and the Accountability in the Nordstream Affair
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