Editing Pipeline (section)

==Pipelines and geopolitics==
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[[File:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Area Maps of Oil and Gas fields, Prospects, Structural Axes, and Petroleum Facilities -- 1951 - DPLA - bfbf332b09ce6186590cf6158a869bab.jpg|thumb|right|United States [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] map of pipeline infrastructure in the Soviet Union (1951)]]

Pipelines for major energy resources (petroleum and natural gas) are not merely an element of trade. They connect to issues of [[geopolitics]] and [[international security]] as well, and the construction, placement, and control of oil and gas pipelines often figure prominently in [[Sovereign state|state]] interests and actions. A notable example of pipeline politics occurred at the beginning of the year 2009, wherein [[2009 Russia–Ukraine gas dispute|a dispute]] between Russia and [[Ukraine]] ostensibly over pricing led to a major political crisis. Russian state-owned gas company [[Gazprom]] cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine after talks between it and the Ukrainian government fell through. In addition to cutting off supplies to Ukraine, Russian gas flowing through Ukraine—which included nearly all supplies to [[Southeastern Europe]] and some supplies to [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Western Europe]]—was cut off, creating a major crisis in several countries heavily dependent on Russian gas as fuel. Russia was accused of using the dispute as leverage in its attempt to keep other powers, and particularly the [[European Union]], from interfering in its "[[near abroad]]".