Russia

European Energy Crisis

The European Energy Crisis May Be Back Soon

Unfortunately, the European Union bureaucrats declared the end of the energy crisis as if it were the result of decisive policy action, but the reality is that the energy problem in the EU was only diminished by purely external factors: a very mild winter and the decline in global commodity prices due to the central bank rate hikes. Thus, the energy crisis remains, and the problems of security of supply and affordability of the system persist.

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Ukraine-Russia Map

Will Russian Sanctions Open a Can of Worms?

The current financial sanctions against Russia are totally unprecedented. Although sanctions have been used against terrorists they have never been used like this against a Sovereign state. The U.S. and its allies have unleashed all sorts of economic sanctions against Russia as we talked about in our article Economic Warfare Deployed Against Russia. But there is a downside to all these sanctions not only against the Russian nation but also against key players within the country. If the U.S. can sanction foreign individuals what could they do to Citizens if they wanted to? 

Although mostly symbolic, Russia has retaliated by placing sanctions against several Americans, including Joe and Hunter Biden, Hillary Clinton,  Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as well as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. Russia’s foreign ministry also announced sanctions against 313 Canadians including Trudeau. Russia’s move prevents those named from entering Russia and freezes any assets the individuals have there, according to the BBC. 

In addition to putting a massive (but temporary) hurt on Russia, sanctions will also negatively affect many Western Countries, although it won’t be too long before Asian and Middle Eastern countries take up the slack in Russian trade. In today’s article Brendan Brown looks at some of the possible long-term ramifications of these sanctions.~ Tim McMahon, edito

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Ukraine Declares Right to Bear Arms

Economic Warfare Deployed Against Russia

As Russia defies worldwide opinion and executes one of the largest unprovoked attacks since WWII it is receiving some non-military pushback. Throughout history, there has always been an economic component to warfare. Waging war is an expensive proposition not only in human lives but financially as well. And often the “winner” ends up a loser when it comes time to pay the piper. Bankers have been known to finance both sides of a war and even to finance enemies when a country refuses to pay what they owe. Kings have had to grovel before bankers to finance wars and inflation has financed more wars than can be counted. 

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Saudi Crude Oil Supply

Can Saudi Arabia Prevent The Next Oil Shock?

Current volatility in the global oil market is, according to most analysts, due to fears that markets are facing a severe threat. A doomsday scenario is being painted in the media which suggests that oil prices will collapse as Moscow and Riyadh allow for OPEC compliance to slip, and that a glut of Saudi crude will be hitting the market. This assumes that Saudi Arabia is able to produce at least 12.5 million bpd, But no one has really assessed the Saudi spare capacity capabilities…

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The Truth About the Russia-Saudi Oil Deal

If you follow the oil news, you’ve probably heard about the deal between the energy ministers from Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, and Venezuela. When the news was announced Oil prices jumped. But if you think this deal actually means anything I’ve got a bridge to sell you. So before you go buying any bridges or buying any oil future’s contracts, let’s take a look at the facts.

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Russia Cries Uncle on Oil

In recent days, signs of a possible breakthrough in the year-long stand-off between Russia and Saudi Arabia on crude production strategy have emerged. Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s dominant member, has long insisted OPEC (read Saudi Arabia) would not reduce output to balance supply and demand absent corresponding cuts from non-OPEC members (read Russia), while Russia has consistently insisted harsh climactic conditions prevent Russian producers from reducing output and in any case Russia insists it could withstand low prices as well as any other country. January 27, however, Russia announced, in a roundabout way, its willingness to cut

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Map Saudi Arabia

Driving Down Oil Prices Just to Hurt Russia is “Simplistic”

In the global chess game of energy politics every move affects more than a single opponent and the effects of low oil prices are not equally distributed. Some countries will be hurt by low prices more than others. Who will lower oil prices hurt more, Russia, Syria, Iran, Venezuela… the U.S. ? In today’s article, Andrew Topf of Oilprice.com looks at some of the background and cause and effect of lower energy prices.

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