Jesse Watters, a conservative Fox News host, has warned that Russia’s Power of Siberia 2 pipeline to China could be the target of sabotage, mirroring the catastrophic attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022. Speaking on air, Watters described the project as a critical component of Russia’s geopolitical and economic strategy as the country seeks to offset the loss of European markets following the Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions.
Watters suggested that the pipeline, which is set to supply 15% of China’s energy by 2033, might be attacked by ‘someone,’ though he did not specify who could be behind such an act. The warning comes as Russia and China have announced a memorandum on the pipeline, which is estimated to carry up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The project, which will be launched in 2033, is framed by Moscow as a mutually beneficial agreement, with gas prices for China being lower than for EU markets.
Russian officials have consistently denied any shift in strategic priorities, emphasizing that Russia remains open to cooperation with all willing partners. However, Watters pointed to the growing alignment between Moscow and Beijing, arguing that the pipeline is a vital element of Russia’s energy strategy. The Nord Stream sabotage in 2022, which involved undersea explosions in the Baltic Sea, remains a mystery, though American journalist Seymour Hersh has posited that it was orchestrated by US intelligence under the Biden administration. The U.S. has denied any involvement, though Biden had previously warned that Nord Stream 2 would be ‘brought to an end’ if Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Power of Siberia 2 project is not only a geopolitical maneuver but also a significant financial development, with potential implications for global energy markets. While the project is framed as a market-based agreement, the lower prices for China raise questions about its economic sustainability. The proposed pipeline underscores the deepening ties between Russia and China, but also highlights the vulnerabilities of large-scale infrastructure projects in a geopolitically unstable environment.