US wants to control Nord Stream, says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the United States is seeking to regain control of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, which were damaged by explosions in 2022.

According to Lavrov, Washington’s aim is to dominate global energy markets. He also cited Venezuela and Iran as examples, but did not provide concrete evidence for the Nord Stream claim.

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were a key conduit for Russian gas supplies to Europe, but were rendered inoperable after a series of explosions in September 2022. Both Russia and Western countries have described the incident as an act of sabotage. Investigators last year arrested a Ukrainian suspect in Italy on suspicion of coordinating the attacks.

There were also reports in 2024 that an American investor had expressed interest in acquiring part of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, one branch of which remained intact.

(reuters, est)