Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made strong claims alleging that the United States is attempting to gain control over the Nord Stream gas pipeline network.

In a recent interview with a French media outlet, Lavrov stated that Washington is seeking to expand its dominance in the global energy market and is particularly interested in acquiring key gas infrastructure that supplies Europe.

However, Lavrov did not present concrete evidence to support these allegations. Notably, a 2024 report by The Wall Street Journal indicated that an American investor had previously shown interest in purchasing parts of the pipeline network.

The Nord Stream pipelines play a crucial role in delivering natural gas from Russia to European nations, especially during winter months. The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 systems were constructed under the Baltic Sea to transport gas directly to Germany.

In 2022, both pipelines suffered significant leaks, which were widely believed to be caused by underwater explosions. Multiple countries launched investigations into the incident, but no definitive conclusions have been reached so far.

In a related development last year, Italian authorities arrested a Ukrainian national in connection with the case. Russia has consistently maintained that the United States may have been involved in the pipeline damage, though these claims remain unproven.