The destruction of two important pipelines that run from Russia to Europe will likely herald a new global phase of trade as Europe and the West cements its rupture in ties with Russia and becomes more self-reliant.
Decades in which European countries sought to tie themselves to Moscow via energy deals and in which they believed that free markets and global trade would make regimes like Russia and China more friendly, have now led to a permanent shift. The reasons for this shift have been a growing trend.
The US has been warning for years about the problems with Nord Stream. According to the Nord Stream website, the two “1,224-kilometre offshore pipelines are the most direct connection between the vast gas reserves in Russia and energy markets in the European Union.” Construction on the first line was completed in 2011.
This was billed as a “secure gas supply for Europe” and the lines were supposed to transport a combined total of 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas a year. But over time the US and other critics became concerned that this would enable Russia to have its hand on the spigot and use energy as a weapon; making Europe too dependent The US began sanctioning Nord Stream 2 in 2017.
But European countries, especially Germany under Angela Merkel, were in favor of the projects. Now the pipelines are damaged in a mysterious incident that unfolded over the weekend. It is widely believed to be sabotage and it appears Russia is behind it. It came as a new Baltic pipeline was being inaugurated. It appears to send a message to the West that pipelines and energy are not safe and it is a kind of mafia blackmail where European countries are now being told “you never know when this might happen again.” (Jerusalem Post)
