VT Foreign Policy

The White House does not want to sanction tankers allegedly used by Russia to deliver oil in defiance of Western sanctions as there are fears that such a move could affect fuel prices and hurt President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, The New York Times reported on July 7, citing sources familiar with the matter. The US outlet reported that White House economic advisers believe the US Treasury proposal will ultimately result in higher oil and gasoline prices. “While Treasury officials want to put Russian tankers out of commission, economic advisers inside the White House worry that there will be a risk of a spike in […] #AmericanGeopoliticalInstitute #UkraineWar Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/07/washington-is-reluctant-to-sanction-russian-oil-tankers-to-prevent-price-hikes/?feed_id=13098

Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned professor of economics and bestselling author, recounted how he warned senior US officials that sanctions on Russia would fail. His statement comes as Daleep Singh, the US deputy national security adviser for international economics, said a large flow of Russian weapons is still powered by electronic components from companies in the United States and allied countries. “The percentage of Russian battlefield weaponry with US or allied branded components is alarmingly and unacceptably high,” Bloomberg quoted Singh as saying on May 28, adding that the US and its allies have struggled to stem the flow of parts to Russia […] #Government Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/05/jeffrey-sachs-blasts-us-sanctions-on-russia-just-one-absolutely-naive-idea-after-another/?feed_id=12175

While speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington, Daleep Singh, deputy national security adviser for international economics in the Biden Administration recently said, “Russia’s shift towards a full-fledged war economy requires the west to extend its sanctions policy, including by sanctioning third-party entities that trade with Moscow”. Singh said, “the United States would consider export controls to prevent China-Russia trade that threatens American security and take further action to increase the cost of Russia using a shadow fleet to evade the G7 countries’ oil price cap. US authorities could also broaden current sanctions language regarding financial facilitation, given Moscow’s moves to shift its economy […] #CounterPoint Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/05/western-nations-anti-russia-sanctions-turns-counterproductive/?feed_id=12139

Pakistan has started construction of an 80-kilometre section of a gas pipeline with Iran despite receiving sanction threats from the US. Working against US interests, though, the threat of sanctions only pushes Pakistan not only closer to Iran but also to China and Russia. Construction for the pipeline from Gwadar in southwest Pakistan to a junction where it can join the Iranian gas pipeline finally started after years-long delays and Washington’s recent threat of sanctions. “Authorities have commenced the work to begin the construction of the 80-kilometre section of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline from Gwadar to a point where it […] #Asia #Government Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/04/pakistan-defies-washingtons-sanction-threats-and-starts-building-gas-pipeline-with-iran/?feed_id=10971

Despite Pakistan dealing with a crippling economic situation, the US has shown little concern for its strategic ally’s issues and, instead of offering support, has threatened tough sanctions if Islamabad decides to continue with the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project. Ironically, though, such an action will only push Pakistan closer to China, which the US views as a greater threat to its hegemony than Iran. “We always advise everyone that doing business with Iran runs the risk of touching upon and coming in contact with our sanctions, and would advise everyone to consider that very carefully,” a US State Department spokesperson […] #Asia #Government Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/03/us-threatens-sanctions-if-pakistan-continues-gas-pipeline-project-with-iran/?feed_id=10559

When the political West insists on the so-called “rules-based world order“, it’s perhaps the most laughable claim of our time, as this supposed “international community” doesn’t abide by its own rules and laws which formally state that private property is protected. The nominally capitalist power pole has no problem using what it usually calls a “communist practice” of illegal confiscation of the said property. In the aftermath of the special military operation (SMO), the United States and its numerous vassals and satellite states illegally froze hundreds of billions in Russian foreign exchange (forex) reserves. Estimates vary, but the most commonly cited number amounts to […] #Featured #Government #UkraineWar #WarZone #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/12/will-political-west-transfer-300-billion-of-stolen-russian-assets-to-kiev-regime/?feed_id=7576

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher Vice-President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Luis de Guindos has warned that frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine by Europe could dent the Euro’s reputation as a safe currency, even though many in the European Union continue to advocate for this action. Guindos is evidently afraid that if the EU pursues a reckless policy of using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, the reputation of European financial institutions and the continent’s premiere currency will be permanently damaged. “Our position on utilising the dividends and interest from the frozen assets is clear. First: […] #Featured #UkraineWar #WarZone #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/12/financing-ukraine-with-frozen-russian-assets-threatens-the-euros-reputation-warns-ecb/?feed_id=7128

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher Just under 130 British companies admitted to having violated the sanctions imposed on Russia, according to data from the UK Treasury cited by the Financial Times. This demonstrates that London’s sanctions on Russia have not worked, and rather, the sanctions are only restricting opportunities for British companies. In May 2023, a total of 127 companies in the United Kingdom admitted to having violated the sanctions imposed on Russia by the Western bloc, according to the British outlet. By admitting it, companies hope to reduce the fines their government has introduced against those who continue […] #Featured #UkraineWar #WarZone #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/11/more-than-100-uk-companies-admit-to-violating-anti-russian-sanctions/?feed_id=6302

by Ahmed Adel, Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher Just under 130 British companies admitted to having violated the sanctions imposed on Russia, according to data from the UK Treasury cited by the Financial Times. This demonstrates that London’s sanctions on Russia have not worked, and rather, the sanctions are only restricting opportunities for British companies. In May 2023, a total of 127 companies in the United Kingdom admitted to having violated the sanctions imposed on Russia by the Western bloc, according to the British outlet. By admitting it, companies hope to reduce the fines their government has introduced against those who continue […] #Featured #UkraineWar #WarZone #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/11/more-than-100-uk-companies-admit-to-violating-anti-russian-sanctions/?feed_id=6272

Cruel embargos target the poorest countries #Featured #Life #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/10/western-sanctions-the-worlds-unseen-killer/?feed_id=4177

Iran's Economy Could Be Huge, But They Don't Care: Economics Explained #Featured #World Read Full Article: https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2023/08/iran-economy/?feed_id=3130