... differences may fade into the background. In any case, Iran has a chance to take advantage of the situation. Such a development of events precludes the formation of a coalition among countries under sanctions, which theoretically could include China, Russia, Iran and Venezuela. China will cooperate with all three, but not to the detriment of relations with the West.
All in all, the new stage of the Ukrainian crisis will have global consequences. For some, it will bring short and medium-term costs, and very significant ...
... States, Democratic candidate Joe Biden spoke about this as well [
vii
]. The US administration promptly released a list of exceptions to its sanctions, many of which were in place long before the pandemic. They concern Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela and Russia [
viii
]. A joint US-Swiss relief supply channel for Iran has become operational [
ix
]. We saw the first transactions based on INSTEX, a long-awaited channel for humanitarian transactions with Iran created by Great Britain, France and Germany ...
... been registered in Syria, a country that is in a state of war. The strict oil embargo has resulted in a shortage of petrol, which is needed by both the military and medics. Cuba has faced fuel shortages as a result of a U.S.-led embargo for years now. Venezuela and a number of other countries have yet to feel the full force of the COVID-19 pandemic, but doctors and the population will likewise be hit hard. The most stable situation right now is in Russia, where the safety margin is greater, and sanctions are not yet that extensive. The principal danger lies in the sanctions blockade of Crimea. However, Moscow has sufficient resources to offset the sanctions against the peninsula.
In the meantime,...
... policy), jumped in and suddenly withdrew from this plan of the former U.S. security advisor John Bolton. Even though the secretary of state Mike Pompeo
characterized
Trump’s endeavours as “crystal clear and incredibly consistent”, the future of Venezuela does not seem that clear, especially if foreign interventions will continue to complement country’s further domestic instability.
Andrey Kortunov:
Russia Is Winning, but Here’s the Catch
China, another country where instability was recently evoked by mass demonstrations in Hong Kong, is going through the toughest period of relationship with America since Mao Zedong. Trade wars and spy scandals ...
The PDVSA case raises important questions concerning Russian banks’ strategy regarding U.S. sanctions
In terms of sanctions, February was significant due to reports about certain ties between Russia’s Gazprombank and PDVSA, Venezuela’s monopolist in oil production. On February 10, Gazprombank refuted a report by
Reuters
that PDVSA’s banking accounts had been transferred to the Russian lending institution. Later,
Reuters
shared insider information that Gazprombank had ...
... vulnerable to such machinations are Russian companies whose role on the international stage is far less unique than that of RUSAL or EN+. Fearing new sanctions, foreign companies are being particularly cautious and may very well refuse to do business with Russian companies even when, from a legal perspective, there is nothing preventing them from doing so.
The events in Venezuela also serve as a valuable lesson here. The United States could step up sanctions should the situation inside the country get any worse. Washington has been increasing pressure on Caracas since 2014, when over 100 individuals and legal entities ...
... conclusions.UPDATE 17 DEC Multiple sources have reported that the US-friendly "Group of Lima" which includes Peru, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and St. Lucia may break off relations with Venezuela due to its authoritarian government, disrespect for democratic values, and its poor record on human rights, among other things. Venezuela's foreign minister has responded to the move with anger, accusing the "Group of Lima" of behaving ...
... technologies.
[25]
Nuclear and hydropower prevails in joint Russia–Argentina projects, and Argentina also imports a large share of Russian fertilizers. Of course, the military and technical industry remains an area of interaction with the region.
[26]
Russian Mi-171 helicopters are constantly in demand by the governments of Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
[27]
In 2013, Mexico purchased 20 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft for its domestic air transportation.
[28]
Russia signed a contract to build the Chihuido I Hydropower Plant in southwest Argentina, becoming one of ...
... genuinely progressive Mercosur looks increasingly threatened.
Marcelo Montes
, professor of international relations at the National University of Villa Maria in Argentina, shares his views on the integration process in Latin America and suggests what Russia can do to avoid making the same mistakes.
Mercosur is facing a lot of problems nowadays, partly due to controversy over the Venezuelan presidency. How is the situation going to develop from your point of view?
Mercosur was established in 1991, and it happened mostly because the situation in the region was favourable. Brazil and Argentina stopped concentrating on military and ...
... is offering an olive branch to the U.S.A. in order to solve its domestic and economic problems and improve its regional status, which is so far within the range of Washington’s geopolitical interests. However, this trend will not obstruct the Russia-Venezuela partnership, as well as Russia’s return to Latin America, although a need is arising for Moscow to be more pragmatic and consistent in its policies.
