In a recent interview with TV Republika, President Andrzej Duda dismissed as “absurd” the baseless accusations made by August Hanning, former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND), regarding Poland’s alleged involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline attacks. The claims, which also implicate Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, seem to be nothing more than a desperate attempt to deflect attention from Germany’s long-standing entanglement with Russia over the controversial Nord Stream projects.
Duda Exposes the German-Russian Gas Gambit
President Duda, in no uncertain terms, denounced Hanning’s assertions as politically motivated nonsense. He rightly pointed out that the Nord Stream pipelines were never about European energy security. Instead, they were a dangerous gambit by Germany and Russia to consolidate control over the European gas market, all while bypassing Central and Eastern Europe.
The President further highlighted that Germany, under the guise of pursuing a “business project,” eagerly collaborated with Russia’s Gazprom to monopolize gas supplies to Europe. This strategic alliance, which was always more about power than energy, left many European nations in a vulnerable position, reliant on Russian gas funnelled directly through German-controlled pipelines.
The German-Russian Axis: Merkel’s Nord Stream Betrayal and the Questionable Motives Behind Europe’s Energy Crisis
It’s no secret that Nord Stream 1 and 2 were emblematic of the German-Russian axis—a coalition of convenience aimed at dominating the European energy landscape. President Duda’s recollection of his futile attempts to dissuade former Chancellor Angela Merkel from greenlighting Nord Stream 2 only underscores the deeply entrenched interests between Berlin and Moscow. Merkel’s persistence, even in the face of widespread opposition and clear security risks, raises serious questions about Germany’s true motives.
Moreover, Duda expressed his outrage at Merkel’s behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to lift the sanctions on Nord Stream 2, previously imposed by President Donald Trump, and her subsequent cosying up to both President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to push the project forward. This betrayal of European solidarity is now laid bare, especially as the pipeline was ultimately scuttled due to the geopolitical fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nord Stream Sabotage
The destruction of Nord Stream in September 2022, whether by accident or sabotage, is now being twisted into a narrative that conveniently absolves Germany and Russia of their misdeeds. Hanning’s outlandish allegations against Poland and Ukraine appear to be a calculated diversion, a “game” played to obscure the reality of German-Russian complicity.