NATO plans strategic pipeline expansion to strengthen eastern flank against Russia
NATO is reportedly considering the construction of a new network of pipelines to enhance military preparedness against potential Russian aggression, according to documents from Germany's Bundeswehr, as reported by Der Spiegel.
The proposed pipeline would connect Germany with Poland and the Czech Republic, ensuring a steady supply of jet fuel to NATO forces positioned on its eastern flank in the event of a conflict. German military officials have stressed that the absence of such a robust fuel network could be NATO's "Achilles' heel," with alternative methods like air transportation unable to meet massive fuel demands.
The alliance is placing a high priority on pipeline networks as a critical component of fuel logistics. The plan reportedly includes extending an existing pipeline from the city of Bramsche in Lower Saxony to Poland, and establishing a new route from Ingolstadt, Bavaria, to the Czech Republic. There are also future ambitions to stretch this network further to Lithuania.
In related efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure, approximately 40 U.S. Marines are set to arrive in Finland to participate in NATO’s "Baltic Sentry" operation, focusing on the protection of undersea infrastructure.