NATO is planning to extend its Cold War-era fuel pipeline system from western Germany into Poland and the Czech Republic, according to a report by the German newspaper Der Spiegel. Citing an internal memo from the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, the report suggests that the expansion is part of the military bloc’s preparation for a potential Russian attack on its eastern member states. This development marks a significant escalation in NATO’s logistical capabilities as tensions between the West and Russia continue to mount.

Originally built in the late 1950s, NATO’s Central European Pipeline System (CEPS) was designed to meet fuel needs during peace, crises, and conflict across central Europe. The system transported kerosene, gasoline, and diesel fuel through Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and was heavily utilized by US military forces stationed in Europe during the Cold War. The planned extension aims to modernize this infrastructure by enabling faster and more reliable fuel supply to NATO forces stationed near the alliance’s eastern borders.

According to the internal memo, the expansion includes “storing fuel as far east as possible near the potential area of operations.” This is crucial, as the current pipeline network ends in western Germany, leaving NATO forces in Eastern Europe reliant on slower and less secure methods of fuel transportation. By extending pipelines into Poland and the Czech Republic, NATO seeks to ensure that its forces can maintain operational readiness in the event of a conflict with........

© Blitz