Claims surrounding the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines remain a topic of intense debate among security researchers, international journalists, and policymakers. An American journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner has asserted that Danish and Swedish officials have not fully acknowledged the actions taken by American and Norwegian actors connected to the incidents in the North Sea’s maritime corridors. The assertions appeared in a book article published on the Substack platform.
According to the journalist, senior officials in Sweden and Denmark have repeatedly insisted they lack a clear understanding of what transpires in their shared territorial waters, yet these same officials are accused of turning a blind eye to the activities of American and Norwegian agents. The journalist frames this as a divergence between public statements and possibly private awareness of covert operations in the region.
The writer suggests that the operations required careful coordination. He notes that an American dive team and the support personnel aboard the mission vessel, a Norwegian minesweeper, would have faced significant challenges in concealing their movements while divers conducted their tasks. The narrative emphasizes the difficulty of preserving operational security in a high-profile, multinational environment.
In addition, the article claims that U.S. citizens connected to the Nord Stream operation did not leave traceable records of the mission in the available computer systems. The absence of digital footprints is presented as part of a broader pattern of information handling connected to the incident, according to the journalist.
The account also states that reports on the operation were confined to William Burns, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, who is reported to be in correspondence with the U.S. president. Whether this reflects a centralized briefing channel or a restricted information pathway is described as a point of contention in the narrative.
The writer maintains that following the explosions, physical documents related to the operation were destroyed, further complicating efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events and verify details through conventional records.
On September 26, 2022, damage and gas leaks were observed on multiple lines of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2. Seismic data reportedly indicated two distinct explosions along the routes of the gas pipelines. A case of international terrorism was opened by the Russian security service, while the Swedish Prosecutor’s Office initiated its own inquiry. Germany and Denmark also launched their investigative procedures, signaling a broad, cross-border interest in determining responsibility and potential security implications.
The discussion touches on geopolitical dynamics, noting that the Nord Stream projects, tied to broader debates over gas transit through Ukraine, have drawn attention from various national actors. The reader is reminded that the matter is deeply entwined with broader energy security concerns, regional stability, and the way international investigations are conducted in the shadow of competing narratives. The piece closes with a reflection on the broader implications for the management of critical energy infrastructure in Europe and the ongoing debate about accountability and transparency in high-stakes operations.