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Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (photo from September 21)
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
After the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised Denmark and Sweden support for the investigations.
This was announced by government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday evening after the Chancellor held video conferences with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the heads of government of Denmark, Sweden and Norway on the damage to the natural gas pipelines.
"All information currently available points to a deliberate act of sabotage of the pipelines," Hebestreit said.
Together with its partners and allies in NATO and the EU, Germany will also "increase precautions and protection against sabotage for critical infrastructure".
Norway has accepted the support of France, Germany and Britain, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
"We are in talks with our allies to increase the (military) presence in the Norwegian sector."
There is currently no evidence that Norway's oil facilities are directly threatened.
But he can understand the concern about the recent incidents in the Baltic Sea, said Störe.
Norway is one of the most important suppliers of oil and gas in Europe.
According to Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), the federal police are currently showing a presence at sea "with all available forces" in view of the threat situation.
"We take the current threats seriously - and protect ourselves," she told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".
According to Faeser, the federal police have "specialized skills to intervene in concrete dangerous situations".
Modern police helicopters, new ships and maritime capabilities of special forces are available for this.
In the area of cyber security, too, “forces have recently been pooled and protective measures increased”.
Four leaks in Danish and Swedish waters were discovered this week on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines from Russia to Germany.
Although the lines are not in operation, they are filled with gas for technical reasons.
It is still unclear who is responsible for the leaks.
Various sources, including Ukraine, have suggested that the Kremlin was behind the attack.
Russia denies that. President Vladimir Putin blamed the West on Friday and spoke of “sabotage”.
bbr/AFP
