U. S. Eyes Control of Nord Stream Pipelines, Says Russia

Sergei Lavrov told a French TV station that the United States is trying to take charge of the Nord Stream gas lines. The pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea, were damaged by a blast in September 2022. The incident cut off much of Russia’s gas flow to Europe, tightening energy supplies even before Russia had already reduced its deliveries. Both Russian officials and Western governments blame sabotage for the explosion. Investigators spent years trying to find out who was responsible, and last year a Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy on suspicion of coordinating the attacks.Lavrov highlighted that Washington has already moved to dominate other energy assets. He pointed to Venezuela, where the U. S. has effectively taken control of the world’s largest oil reserves, and to Iran as examples. He said that America now wants control of the Nord Stream pipelines as well. No specific details were given about how the U. S. plans to take over the lines. The Wall Street Journal reported that an American investor, Stephen P. Lynch, is looking to buy the two‑legged Nord Stream 2 pipeline, though one of its lines remains intact. The claim adds another layer to the ongoing tension over Europe’s energy security and highlights how geopolitical power plays can shape critical infrastructure.