<i>It certainly wasn&#x27;t Germany or Russia...</i><p>North Stream allows Russia to excuse the military presence on Baltic Sea (to protect the pipe but also cut of aid to Nato allies over the sea).<p>Therefore finding anything that shows threat to the pipe is in favor of Russia.<p>Of course this might have multiple levels. It was planted by US&#x2F;UK, Russia strengthens military presence close to Sweden, Sweden moves closer to the Nato alliance.<p>I am no expert in this area but I think that your understanding is a bit too simplistic.