NATO, close to an agreement for the expansion of the fuel pipeline system towards Eastern Europe / The issue has put Nicușor Dan in a bind at the summit in Ankara

NATO countries are close on Wednesday, at the summit in Ankara, to concluding an agreement for the expansion of the fuel pipeline system (NPS) that dates back to the Cold War towards Eastern Europe, following a consensus after years of deliberations, Bloomberg reports, citing the Romanian press. However, the issue seems to have put President Nicușor Dan in a bind during the press conference on Wednesday morning.

What is the NATO pipeline system

Thus, according to Bloomberg, countries such as Poland and Romania have requested access to this network, which now spans 10,000 kilometers and supplies Western forces in the event of conflict, but which stops in Germany. At this moment, the pipeline system crosses 12 countries.

The expansion is a reaction to concerns about the inadequacy of existing infrastructure for operations near the borders of Russia.

The project, estimated at $30 billion over two decades, will become the largest investment in NATO's history, with Poland, the Baltic states, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey as the main beneficiaries.

The technical details and funding structure are yet to be established, and NATO will cover most of the costs.

The project is crucial for improving the alliance's capacity to supply military fuel, having increased importance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Nicușor Dan's response regarding the pipeline system

Nicușor Dan was asked Wednesday morning in Ankara if Romania is ready to commit to the expansion of the NATO pipeline system.

He seemed to be put in difficulty and did not know what it was about.

"The system of...?" he asked. "Should these pipelines really come from Turkey?" a voice from the room responded. "For supply or for what?" Nicușor asked once again.

Previously, the President of Poland stated that he would insist that NATO's fuel pipeline network be extended to the eastern flank of the alliance, addressing what military officials consider to be one of the biggest challenges in the event of a conflict with Russia.

"The dual-use nature of the pipelines... provides the opportunity to enhance the security of the entire eastern flank of NATO, so this is also an opportunity for me and for all of Central Europe to raise this issue again," said President Karol Nawrocki upon his arrival at the NATO summit in Ankara.