PeaceQuest
  • Home
  • Projects
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Donate
  • Email Us: sstaples@peacequest.ca
  • For teachers: WarandChildren.com
  • Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
PeaceQuest
  • Home
  • Projects
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Welcome
  • Donate Now

    Scholarship fund studious poor children

    Notice: Test mode is enabled. While in test mode no live donations are processed.

    $
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Donation Total: $10

Who sabotaged those underwater gas pipelines from Russia?

Homepage Analysis Who sabotaged those underwater gas pipelines from Russia?
Analysis

Who sabotaged those underwater gas pipelines from Russia?

13 October 2022
By Steven Staples
0 Comment
860 Views

It’s an international “whodunit?” On September 26, the company operating the underwater pipeline from Russia to Germany reported a sudden loss of pressure. Simultaneously, Danish and Swedish authorities detected a series of undersea explosions offshore the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea.

Investigations revealed the explosions had damaged two pipelines, Nord Stream and the unfinished Nord Stream 2, releasing natural gas into the environment and rendering them both inoperable.  

Some suggested Russia mined the pipelines and set off the damaging explosions, while others were not so quick to pass judgement – including the U.S. Biden Administration. Russian Federation President Putin blamed the West for the acts of sabotage.

Weeks have passed and several investigations are underway, but the world still does not know who is responsible.

John Foster is an energy economist with a keen interest in international affairs, and he recently wrote a revealing article for Canadian Dimension magazine. John Foster is the author of Oil and World Politics: The real story of today’s conflict zones (Lorimer Books, 2018). He held positions with the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, BP and Petro-Canada.

In the article, Foster writes, “When unexpected events occur in foreign affairs, like a sudden ousting of a government or an explosion of pipelines, an important question is: cui bono, who benefits?”

Only a very few countries have the technological resources and access to the Baltic Sea to carry out such attacks. That rules out Ukraine despite its animosity to Nord Stream because it allows Europe to buy Russian gas. France may have the technology but has no reason to antagonize its ally Germany. Britain acts in lockstep with the United States and is unlikely to act independently. That leaves Russia, Poland and the United States. “Like an Agatha Christie mystery, the culprit is likely to be one or more of them,” says Foster.

Was it Russia?

Foster says it’s unlikely Russia; “The sabotage cannot benefit Russia. It owns the pipelines in full or part and can turn them on or off without wrecking them.”

Was it the United States?

He points out that even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, the United States had the Nord Stream pipelines in its sights. “On February 7, President Joe Biden stated that, if Moscow invaded Ukraine, “there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it… I promise you, we’ll be able to do it.”

Maybe it was Poland?

Poland has always been hostile to Nord Stream, says Foster. In August, Polish President Andrzej Duda demanded it be “totally scrapped.” After the explosions, former Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky thanked Washington for destroying the pipelines. The sabotage occurred just 100 kilometres from the Polish naval port of Kolobrzeg, which hosts minelaying ships and naval combat engineers.

What do you think?

  • Read “The Nord Stream pipeline explosions: a geopolitical whodunit,” by John Foster and published on October 3, 2022 by Canadian Dimension
Tags: Ukraine

Previous Story
Sixty years after the Cuban missile crisis, has anything changed?
Next Story
Most readers say Canada’s response to Ukraine is on the wrong track

Related Articles

What divides the Left over Ukraine peace negotiations?

Many overlooking future Russian threat: author

Invitation: International Summit for Peace in Ukraine

June 10th-11th 2023 in Vienna, Austria

Categories

  • Action
  • Analysis
  • Commentary
  • Event
  • PeaceQuest Cape Breton
  • PeaceQuest Kingston
  • PeaceQuest Regina
  • Resource
  • Teachers

Contact

PeaceQuest Leadership and Education Initiative

c/o Steven Staples, Chairperson

225 Sumach Street W303

Toronto  ON M5A 0P8

Email: sstaples@peacequest.ca

Phone: m. 647-327-7187

PeaceQuest Info

  • Projects
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

Local Groups

  • Cape Breton
  • Kingston
  • Regina

 

 

Teachers

  • WarandChildren.com
Copyright ©2020 PeaceQuest Leadership and Education Initiative
SearchPostsLogin
Friday, 17, Mar
What divides the Left over Ukraine peace negotiations?
Thursday, 16, Mar
Views on Ukraine differ widely, informal survey finds
Tuesday, 14, Mar
Cape Breton activists offer support to Montenegro anti-war conservationists
Saturday, 11, Mar
Invitation: International Summit for Peace in Ukraine
Friday, 3, Mar
All wars must end, but how to negotiate peace in Ukraine?
Thursday, 2, Mar
Webinar: Learn non-violent tactics for a war-torn world

Welcome back,