Kathrine Frich
The Nord Stream pipelines, crucial for transporting Russian natural gas to Europe, were sabotaged on September 26, 2022.
In a recent speech in Băile Tușnad, Romanian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sharply criticized the European Union’s lack of response to the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines.
Absence of Reaction
According to URA Orban described the EU’s silence and apparent disinterest in investigating the incident as an “act of capitulation,” suggesting that it indicates a loss of European autonomy.
Orban’s remarks were aired on the M1 channel, where he expressed his dismay over the absence of a reaction, even from Germany, which suffered direct losses. He insinuated that the sabotage might have been conducted under U.S. orders, targeting German infrastructure.
“The fact that we are not discussing, investigating, or legally pursuing this matter… is nothing less than surrender,” he stated.
Planned Already in 2014
The Nord Stream pipelines, crucial for transporting Russian natural gas to Europe, were sabotaged on September 26, 2022. According to some reports, plans to disrupt the pipelines were in place as early as 2014, before Crimea’s annexation by Russia and the onset of the conflict in Ukraine.
While Sweden and Denmark ceased their investigations into the incident as of February 2024, Germany continues to seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the explosions.
Orban’s comments highlight a growing frustration among some European leaders over what they perceive as a diminishing independence in European foreign policy, particularly concerning alignment with U.S. interests.