Poland to push for NATO pipeline extension to eastern flank

Poland’s president said on Wednesday that he will push for NATO to extend its Cold War-era fuel pipeline network to the alliance’s eastern flank, responding to what military officials describe as a major challenge in a conflict scenario with Russia. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, President Karol Nawrocki said the “dual-use” nature of pipelines could help secure NATO’s entire eastern flank, framing the proposal as a way for central Europe to raise the issue again. NATO military officials have called for extending the system hundreds of kilometres eastward toward Poland and the three Baltic states, with further branches toward Finland and Romania. A Der Spiegel estimate puts the cost at 21 billion euros and the timeline at 20 to 25 years. The 10,000-kilometre pipeline runs through 12 countries but currently ends in western Germany, near bases including U.S. Ramstein, as well as major civilian hubs like Frankfurt airport.