Secret documents on Nord Stream were revealed in Germany: who caused the explosion, what is known

The German Ministry of Economic Affairs provided the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) with secret documents that talk about the role of Western politicians in the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In particular, they provide information about the secret concessions of US President Joe Biden and the stubborn struggle of the former and current German Chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.

According to the papers, former American leader Donald Trump was a strong opponent of the construction of Nord Stream 2 and imposed sanctions against it. However, the current head of the United States agreed to make significant concessions to the German government in this matter.

It is clarified that there are many documents concerning contacts between Berlin and Washington regarding the gas pipeline. They say that in the summer of 2021, Merkel sent high-ranking officials to the United States to agree on a resolution to prevent Germany from using Russia’s energy supplies as a weapon.

Merkel and Scholz fought over the construction of Nord Stream 2

Various memos, embassy reports and memos state that the former German chancellor and two coalitions under her leadership fought for the construction of the gas pipeline and lobbied for the interests of Gazprom.

According to SZ, the desire of German politicians to cooperate with Moscow could not be thwarted by either resistance from Eastern Europe, Brussels and Washington, or their criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It is noted that Merkel did not see a threat in Nord Stream 2, although the European Commission was skeptical about the project.

A 2014 memo from the German Ministry of Economic Affairs said that “for the foreseeable future” Germany will depend on gas imports from Russia and a complete abandonment of it “does not seem possible in the coming years and decades.”

According to internal documents, in 2015, after learning of Gazprom’s plans to build a new gas pipeline with the participation of European firms, Merkel gave instructions to support the project within the government to “strengthen Germany’s role as a European gas hub.”

It is also clarified that before the withdrawal of the report that opened the final path for the commissioning of Nord Stream 2, Scholz also actively tried to “clear the way” for the Russian gas pipeline.

Putin accused US intelligence agencies of sabotage on Nord Stream

On September 26, 2022, explosions occurred on Russian gas pipelines to Europe—Nord Stream and the unlaunched Nord Stream 2—that led to large-scale gas leaks. Accidents were recorded in the territorial waters of Sweden and Denmark.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States intelligence services of sabotage on the gas pipeline. The head of state refused to go into details, but stressed that in such cases one should look for those who may be interested.

According to the Russian leader, there may be many interested, but not everyone can climb to the bottom of the Baltic Sea and carry out this explosion.

American economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs also believed that the US administration was behind the bombing of the Russian gas pipeline.

He recalled that Washington had promised to do this “dozens of times” and criticized the United States for suppressing the truth. “We live in a situation where people in power think it’s a game, that it’s not their job to tell us (the truth),” Sachs concluded.