Leaks from Nord Stream gas pipelines are acts of “sabotage”, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after a meeting with Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov in Brussels.

“We discussed the sabotage of the #NorthStream pipeline with Defense Minister Morten Bodskov of our valued ally Denmark. We discussed critical infrastructure protection in #NATO countries,” Stoltenberg said on his account. Twitter verified.

Stoltenberg’s remarks come after Swedish authorities warned of multiple leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea near Sweden and Denmark, and which have were the main sources of the energy war. between Europe and Russia.

There are reasons to be concerned about the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, following unexplained leaks from Nord Stream gas pipelines, Bodskov said after Wednesday’s meeting.

Discussed sabotage on the #NorthStream pipelines with the Minister of Defense @mfMorten of our precious ally #Denmark. We discussed critical infrastructure protection in #BORN countries. pic.twitter.com/GCRgVOTR2S

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) September 28, 2022

“Russia has a significant military presence in the Baltic Sea region and we expect it to continue its swordplay,” Bodskov said, his press office told CNN.

The pair discussed what Stoltenberg called “sabotage” on Nord Stream pipelines and “addressed critical infrastructure protection in NATO countries,” Stoltenberg tweeted.

The Danish Ministry of Defense said a total of three leaks – which European leaders say cannot be considered sabotage – were discovered in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, respectively in the northeast and southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm.

These are two leaks in Nord Stream 1 and one in Nord Stream 2, the press office told CNN.

The Danish Maritime Authority has issued a shipping advisory and established a no-go area to ensure ships do not enter areas near the leaks.

Vessels can lose buoyancy if they enter the area and there may be a risk of ignition above water and in the air, the press office said.

Subsequently, a prohibited zone with a radius of 5 nautical miles was created for ships and a prohibited zone of 1 kilometer for aircraft.

“It is too early to draw conclusions about the causes of the incidents. But at the same time, it is difficult to imagine that this is pure coincidence. At the moment, we cannot exclude that it this is a deliberate action,” Bodskov said.

“Obviously, this is a very serious matter. That is why we are taking the precautions we are taking and strengthening our presence in the Bornholm area. Our authorities are doing everything possible to clarify the cause, in close collaboration with our partners,” he added. . .

Bodskov’s office confirmed to CNN that it could be a week or two before areas around the damaged Nord Stream leaks are calm enough to be investigated.

Many world leaders have raised concerns about the cause of the leaks, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling the pipeline leaks a “sabotage action” in a tweet on Tuesday.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said the damage to the pipelines was “very worrying”, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said if the leaks were the result of an attack, “it does not ‘clearly interests no one’.