Netherlands Shaken By Turmoil Over Nord Stream Blasts (Worthy News Radio)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – The Netherlands has been shaken by political turmoil over revelations that Dutch government members knew about Ukraine’s involvement in blowing up Nord Stream pipelines transporting Russian natural gas to Europe, even before it happened. Information about the planned sabotage in September 2022 was shared by the Dutch secret service with the United States, officials say, which raised questions about former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is due to become the secretary general of the NATO military alliance.
U.S. sources say several Dutch government members likely knew about Ukrainian plans to attack the Nord Stream pipelines. They explain that the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) informed the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) about the sabotage plan shortly before the explosion of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
It has led to political pressure on the recently elected government of former intelligence chief Dick Schoof.
The largest party supporting the Cabinet, the anti-Islam Party for Freedom, the PVV, and others demanded to know who knew about the sabotage plans.
Rutte, who was prime minister at the time and will be NATO’s secretary general from October 1, previously shrugged off suggestions of possible U.S. and Ukrainian involvement in the explosion during a turbulent parliamentary debate. “Yeah, this is nonsense,” Rutte told legislator Terry Baudet. “But you know that yourself. I don’t want to address this issue. It’s time to go to bed.”
However, well-informed sources say several ministers, including the then prime minister, must have known about the MIVD findings about Nord Stream.
Outspoken PVV party leader Geert Wilders now insists on reconsidering the Dutch relationship with Ukraine, which is likely creating tensions within the coalition government.
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While the debate continues in the Netherlands, German state prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor who was allegedly involved in the attack. He is accused of being part of a team of experienced Ukrainian divers who hired a German yacht in September 2022.
Investigators say they sailed out into the Baltic Sea and planted the explosives, blowing up three of the four Nord Stream pipelines.
Informed and pressured by Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly ordered an end to the operation, but by that time, it was too late as the explosives were allegedly already on the way.
Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyanskiy, has his doubts. “We had a very vivid discussion right now in the consultation room of the Security Council. This is a scenario for a Hollywood blockbuster. Only a child or a very naive person can believe that three amateur divers are behind this blast. So, those who promote this fairy tale want to create a smokescreen around confessions of U.S. top officials in the sabotage of the Nord Stream, which are widely known,” he said, adding that Germany declined to share information with the United Nations Security Council.
In the Netherlands, critics such as the Eurosceptic Forum for Democracy party share his concerns.
They view the war between Russia and Ukraine as a broader battle between the U.S.-led NATO military alliance and Moscow.
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