When the Nord Stream pipeline was announced, the US Government was furious. The energy corridor was to connect Russian oil and gas to Europe, bypassing traditional US allies like Ukraine and Poland, leaving them out in the cold. President Trump had softly threatened to take action against Russia's attempt to strengthen its grip on Europe’s energy supply and the CIA was quietly pushing for a covert mission to sabotage the pipeline.
But it wasn't until 2020 when things took a dramatic turn. According to Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, President Trump had finally approved a plan proposed by the CIA and the Navy to sabotage the project.
The mission was kept tightly under wraps, with only the most senior officials in the know. But it was clear the plan was to use a special device to create a hole in the pipeline right beneath the Baltic Sea. The goal was to cause massive damage to the pipeline, forcing Russia to abandon the project.
The CIA used its covert resources to coordinate the attack, while the Navy provided the high-tech equipment and personnel to carry out the mission. On the night of October 10, 2020, the Navy sent a task force of five warships and two submarines to the location of the pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea.
At the same time, a US special operations team secretly infiltrated the pipeline and successfully planted the device. The device then detonated, sending a shockwave through the pipeline and causing a massive rupture.
The damage was so severe that Russia had to abandon the project entirely, leaving Europe without a steady energy supply. In the aftermath, President Trump declared victory and the US authorities celebrated their success in thwarting the Nord Stream pipeline.
For the people of Europe, the sabotaged pipeline was a major blow, leaving them once again dependent on US allies for their energy supply. Though the mission was kept secret, Seymour Hersh was able to uncover the truth of what had occurred, exposing the US Government's covert actions and prompting an investigation into the matter.
The story of the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage is a reminder of the lengths to which the US Government and military will go to protect their strategic interests. To some, it serves as yet another warning sign of how the power of the US can be harnessed to achieve its goals, no matter the consequences.
GQ
