A new US license is being interpreted as prohibiting Venezuelan energy companies from transactions with China among other countries, which if true, could lead to India purchasing the 642,000 barrels of oil per day that China imported on average last year and thus halving its import of Russian oil.
So the US kidnaps Venezuela's President, tries him in a US "special" court, captures the oil industry and its reserves, enforces prohibition of oil trade between Venezuela and other nations thus inducing economic and social hardship in multiple nations and now threatens ,(at the behest of Israel), full scale war on Iran. What does the UN do in response to US hegemonic behaviour? In fact, what use is the UN if it allows super powers to run riot amongst peaceful nations? The vast majority of Earth's citizens prefer peace and co-operative harmony - not a future based on fear , instability and unsolicited misery.
India runs a $25 billion balance of payments deficit.
If it had to pay market prices in hard currency for Venezuelan oil, this would be a very significant impost on the Indian economy generally, and particularly so on Indian farmers whose votes are keeping Modi in power.
I suspect that like many other countries, India is agreeing to Trump’s demands in the hope that by the time it comes to implementing them, Trump will be out of office, and replaced by someone more mainstream.
Indians care about themselves, individually. Their family, maybe their caste or tribe. Beyond that it's pretty limited. There's a reason why most people that goes there describes it as an open air dump. Politics flow downstream from people's willingness to litter. (Though why Germany is such a mess seems to be the exception to the rule...).
India may buy Venezuela oil for export to Europe but it's own domestic supply will be Russian. There will never be a cut off of Russian fuel. Rubio is a goddamn liar like his boss.
Not sure about this. India's biggest import by far is crude ($168 bn) and it's "subsidised" somewhat to India too via Russia. To replace it with US crude would double that figure (at least); that plus it isn't India who will be paying the "tariffs" (better words are "import duty") to USA - this is paid by the consumer, with the import duty going direct to US Treasury.
I haven't seen the licence. I don't even know what licence is being talked about but I really doubt Modi will readily give up £168 billion to pay for US or Venezuelan crude for it.
Is this an oil trading network or is it a shell game? The oil appears to be going to the same customers, just under different flags and by means of different routes. Trump gets to act all big and bad, but the oil, and the grift, must flow and so it does.
The Americans are undermining Russia in India and the Caucasus, "containing" China, making Europe entirely dependent on US oil, and driving Venezuela and Cuba back to the sheepfold. These are the facts. All the rest is smoke and mirrors, intented to deceive those who believe that the US elite is no longer striving for world hegemony.
A previous Australian Government signed long term contracts for the sale of LNG to Japan at prices less that the cost of domestic LNG to Australian citizens! The volume of gas exported to Japan exceeds Japan's current requirements so it is being on-sold by private Japanese companies to Asian markets, again at a price less that Australia's export price. but at a handsome price to Japanese enterprises. Maybe this is what India will do with its Venezuelan oil imports : on-sell it to satisfy Chinese industry needs?
It looks to me like the pieces are being moved around to ensure China is highly dependent on Russian oil for the START negotiations. Russia wants a new treaty, perhaps enough to apply pressure on China to join and accept limits.
Is "soon" the word? I read that the decades of sanctions have degraded the Venezuelan ability to pump oil so much that it will take years to restore - because it is a particularly "heavy" oil, and needs special equipment. Sure, the US makes the gear, and can supply it, but it costs time and money to bring production back to a point where in can replace a meaning proportion of Russian supply.
Concerning Venezuela, it's becoming very clear that the military "feat" of USA in "capturing" Maduro, was rather a golden surrender for him in a typical hollywoodian spectacular show.
This country was probably tired to resist alone against US and minions.
And state apparatus was probably almost entirely rotten .
So the US kidnaps Venezuela's President, tries him in a US "special" court, captures the oil industry and its reserves, enforces prohibition of oil trade between Venezuela and other nations thus inducing economic and social hardship in multiple nations and now threatens ,(at the behest of Israel), full scale war on Iran. What does the UN do in response to US hegemonic behaviour? In fact, what use is the UN if it allows super powers to run riot amongst peaceful nations? The vast majority of Earth's citizens prefer peace and co-operative harmony - not a future based on fear , instability and unsolicited misery.
Since night of times, those who rule never gave a shit a what wanted the huge majority.
India runs a $25 billion balance of payments deficit.
If it had to pay market prices in hard currency for Venezuelan oil, this would be a very significant impost on the Indian economy generally, and particularly so on Indian farmers whose votes are keeping Modi in power.
I suspect that like many other countries, India is agreeing to Trump’s demands in the hope that by the time it comes to implementing them, Trump will be out of office, and replaced by someone more mainstream.
Nobody cares what happens to Indians.
Indians do. And their fellow BRICS, up to a point (of common interest).
Indians care about themselves, individually. Their family, maybe their caste or tribe. Beyond that it's pretty limited. There's a reason why most people that goes there describes it as an open air dump. Politics flow downstream from people's willingness to litter. (Though why Germany is such a mess seems to be the exception to the rule...).
Their rulers don't. They are the only ones who matter.
That's hardly unique to India, BTW.
India may buy Venezuela oil for export to Europe but it's own domestic supply will be Russian. There will never be a cut off of Russian fuel. Rubio is a goddamn liar like his boss.
We had much say "never" those last years.
I agree.
Not sure about this. India's biggest import by far is crude ($168 bn) and it's "subsidised" somewhat to India too via Russia. To replace it with US crude would double that figure (at least); that plus it isn't India who will be paying the "tariffs" (better words are "import duty") to USA - this is paid by the consumer, with the import duty going direct to US Treasury.
I haven't seen the licence. I don't even know what licence is being talked about but I really doubt Modi will readily give up £168 billion to pay for US or Venezuelan crude for it.
Is this an oil trading network or is it a shell game? The oil appears to be going to the same customers, just under different flags and by means of different routes. Trump gets to act all big and bad, but the oil, and the grift, must flow and so it does.
The Americans are undermining Russia in India and the Caucasus, "containing" China, making Europe entirely dependent on US oil, and driving Venezuela and Cuba back to the sheepfold. These are the facts. All the rest is smoke and mirrors, intented to deceive those who believe that the US elite is no longer striving for world hegemony.
A previous Australian Government signed long term contracts for the sale of LNG to Japan at prices less that the cost of domestic LNG to Australian citizens! The volume of gas exported to Japan exceeds Japan's current requirements so it is being on-sold by private Japanese companies to Asian markets, again at a price less that Australia's export price. but at a handsome price to Japanese enterprises. Maybe this is what India will do with its Venezuelan oil imports : on-sell it to satisfy Chinese industry needs?
Venezuela was not exactly a peaceful nation.
Thanks for your great work Andrew!
We've restacked and shared this link on 'The Stacks'
https://askeptic.substack.com/p/the-stacks
China should replace its Venezuelan imports of 640,000 barrels per day by importing from other countries, why not Russia?
It looks to me like the pieces are being moved around to ensure China is highly dependent on Russian oil for the START negotiations. Russia wants a new treaty, perhaps enough to apply pressure on China to join and accept limits.
Is "soon" the word? I read that the decades of sanctions have degraded the Venezuelan ability to pump oil so much that it will take years to restore - because it is a particularly "heavy" oil, and needs special equipment. Sure, the US makes the gear, and can supply it, but it costs time and money to bring production back to a point where in can replace a meaning proportion of Russian supply.
Unlike Russia, the Americans do not dither.
OK. China will simply buy more Russian oil.
Is BRICS really just a paper tiger?
Concerning Venezuela, it's becoming very clear that the military "feat" of USA in "capturing" Maduro, was rather a golden surrender for him in a typical hollywoodian spectacular show.
This country was probably tired to resist alone against US and minions.
And state apparatus was probably almost entirely rotten .
Whatever. It worked.
It's an obsession for you. :)
It was not a value jugement, good or mal, it was an observation.
I'm not sure how my pointing out blindingly obvious facts is an "obsession" but whatever helps you avoid facing uncomfortable truths.