The United Nations Security Council has failed to pass a resolution calling for an independent inquiry into the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in September. The explosions caused gas to be spewed into the Baltic Sea, and occurred in the exclusive economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Last month, Sweden, Denmark and Germany said that their own separate investigations were still ongoing and that Russia had been informed. In a joint letter to the Security Council, they said the damage was caused by “powerful explosions due to sabotage”. The US and NATO have also called the incident “an act of sabotage”.
Russia proposed the draft resolution last month, just days before the first anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine. Only Russia, China and Brazil voted in favour of the Russian-drafted text on Monday, while the remaining 12 council members abstained. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, the United States or the United Kingdom to pass. Russia has complained that it has not been kept informed about the ongoing national investigations. Moscow has maintained, without providing evidence, that the West was behind the blasts.
Most Security Council members who abstained on Monday said they did so because the national investigations should be allowed to conclude before considering whether any action at the UN was needed. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council before the vote: “Without an objective and transparent international investigation, the truth will not be uncovered as to what happened”. The US deputy ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, responded by saying: “The United States was not involved in any way. Period”. He accused Russia of trying to “discredit the work of ongoing national investigations and prejudice any conclusions they reach that do not comport to Russia’s predetermined and political narrative”.
The Nord Stream pipeline is a key part of Russia’s strategy to bypass Ukraine as a gas transit route to Europe. The pipeline runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, and has a capacity of 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year. The pipeline is owned by Gazprom, which is majority-owned by the Russian state. The pipeline has been controversial since its inception, with critics arguing that it increases Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and undermines Ukraine’s role as a transit country.
The explosions in September were not the first time that Nord Stream has been targeted. In 2012, the pipeline was damaged by a ship’s anchor, and in 2014, during the height of the Ukraine crisis, Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, leading to concerns about energy security. The EU has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, and has been promoting alternative sources of energy, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US and elsewhere.
The Nord Stream pipeline is not the only gas pipeline that has been targeted in recent months. In October, a pipeline in Turkey that carries gas from Russia to Europe was damaged in an explosion. The pipeline is known as the Trans-Balkan Pipeline, and runs from Russia to Turkey via Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria. The explosion occurred in Turkey, near the border with Greece, and was blamed on Kurdish militants. The pipeline was quickly repaired, and gas supplies were not affected.
The incident highlighted the vulnerability of Europe’s gas supplies, and the need for greater diversification of energy sources. The EU has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, which currently accounts for around a third of its total gas imports. The EU has been promoting alternative sources of energy, such as LNG from the US and elsewhere, as well as renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. However, there are concerns that these sources are not yet cost-competitive with fossil fuels, and that they may not be able to meet Europe’s energy needs in the short term.
The Nord Stream incident also highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, and the potential for energy supplies to be used as a political weapon. The Ukraine crisis has led to a deterioration in relations between Russia and the West, and has highlighted the importance of energy security for Europe. The EU has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, while Russia has been seeking to maintain its dominance in the European gas market. The Nord Stream incident is unlikely to be the last time that energy supplies are used as a political weapon in this ongoing geopolitical struggle.