The defense minister says the US-led bloc should carry out underwater policing after the Nord Stream incident
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has called on NATO to increase its patrols in the Baltic Sea, not only above but also underwater, following the recent explosions that knocked out the Russian gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2.
In an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit on Wednesday, Pevkur accused Russia of blowing up its own pipelines to scare the EU and to divert attention from the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine.
“The only state that has an interest in this sabotage is Russia,” the minister said, but added that there is no evidence to support the allegation.
When asked how vulnerable the Baltic states were to underwater attacks such as the apparent sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, Pevkur noted that NATO already conducts “air policing” over the Baltic Sea and should now think about “under policing” or underwater surveillance.
The minister explained that the US-led military bloc has extensive air and ground surveillance capabilities but does not know what is happening under the sea surface. He expressed hope that Finland and Sweden, each awaiting NATO membership, will be able to provide such detection systems.
Danish authorities reported leaks on both the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines on September 26 after the operator experienced a loss of pressure in the system. Danish and Swedish authorities later said a series of underwater explosions had been discovered near Bornholm Island in the Baltic Sea.
While the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, it is widely believed to be the result of sabotage. Some Western and Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of destroying its own pipelines, while Moscow has pointed the finger at the United States as the potential culprit.
Shortly after the incidents, former Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorsky posted and deleted a tweet suggesting that the US was behind the explosions of the pipelines connecting Russia to the EU through Germany.
Nord Stream pipelines have been at the heart of the energy conflict between Moscow and Brussels amid the Ukraine conflict in Ukraine. According to Russian gas giant Gazprom, the pipes have been severely damaged but can be restored with “time and appropriate means”.
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk