Južni tok se generalno smatra rivalom planiranom gasovodu Nabucco, kojim bi se kaspijski i bliskoistočni gas trebao prenositi u Evropu preko Turske, uz zaobilaženje Rusije.
South Stream is widely viewed as a rival to the planned Nabucco pipeline, designed to carry Caspian and Middle East natural gas to Europe via Turkey, bypassing Russia.