Editor's Note: Stratfor closely monitors the ebbs and flows of world energy. Aside from production, the transportation of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products is of paramount concern for oil-producing nations. For energy consumers, transit routes are indispensible lifelines. A huge amount of the world's energy is transited through pipelines, across the Eurasian landmass in particular. In this periodic series we will examine some of the most geopolitically significant pipelines running through Europe and Asia. In this installment, Stratfor examines Europe's response to the proposed Nord Stream II pipeline. Russia is pushing forward with its new European natural gas strategy , dividing its neighbors to the west in the process. Gazprom's controversial Nord Stream II pipeline is a key component of that strategy, and if constructed, it would boost Russia's ability to send natural gas directly to Germany.