Biden vows to protect NATO territory, calls pipeline explosions ‘sabotage’

President Joe Biden said that the Nord Stream pipeline explosions were a ‘sabotage’ and vowed to protect ”every inch” of NATO territory.
President Joe Biden said Friday that leaks in a pair of natural gas pipelines between Russia and Europe were caused by a “deliberate act of sabotage.” The U.S. and its NATO allies are working to find out exactly what happened to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, Biden told reporters at the White House.

Two underwater explosions were recorded in the Baltic Sea shortly before the leaks were found on Monday. European officials also said the explosions appear to be the result of a deliberate act, although it remains unclear who was responsible for the leaks.

Biden said the Russians are “pumping out disinformation and lies” about the leaks, an apparent reference to Putin accusing the U.S. and its allies of blowing up the lines. Biden said the U.S. already has begun to help its allies protect the critical infrastructure. “At the appropriate moment, when things calm down, we’re going to be sending divers down to find out exactly what happened,” he said.