The Multipolar World Order (yes, it's coming)

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
NATO: "You need to have water, flashlights, and a radio on batteries to make sure you survive the first 36 hours.”

As NATO, which Fidel Castro called the ‘most perfidious instrument of repression known in the history of humankind’, loses its iron grip over the world, NATO now warns its citizens to prepare for war against Russia🇷🇺 or another one of NATO’s seemingly endless list of adversaries.

While the global south looks with optimism to a multipolar world, NATO seems hell-bent on doing everything to destroy the new power centres of the multipolar world.

https://rumble.com/v4jhmm0-putin-sta...irect-c.html?a

https://x.com/afshinrattansi/status/1770714614893826141

[Vicus]

Sanctions Empower Russia, 'Boomerang' on Europe and Undermine Dollar Hegemony – Experts 23 minutes ago



Western economic aggression against Russia only sped up its economic growth, with Moscow bolstering ties with the Global South and becoming one of its key pillars.

Russia's 3.6% economic growth in 2023 that dwarfed that of G7 countries shows that sanctions have failed completely, the Daily Mail has reported, quoting experts.

The outlet quoted US President Joe Biden as saying that the Russian economy “looks resilient”.
Nevertheless, experts admit that sanctions “influenced Russia's behavior enormously," but not in the way Western leaders and economists intended. Sanctions showed Russia that the West is hostile and prompted Moscow to bolster its ties with the Global South.

“Moscow has been forming strong alliances with its BRICS partners and some other states in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with the aim of creating a new global balance of power," admited Dr. Ksenia Kirkham from King’s College, London.

She added that Moscow is busy developing alternative trade routes and payment systems that challenge Western economic power and, in the end, undermine US dollar hegemony and control over logistic chains – “the very mechanisms through which sanctions effectively operate”.

“Russia's isolation is a myth,” she admitted firmly.

Anti-Russian sanctions, however, are doing a great job of ruining European economies and bolstering Europe’s dependence on the United States.

“European countries have suffered greatly from a 'sanctions boomerang',” said expert on international relations Professor Alan Cafruny from the US’ Hamilton College.

After sanctions were introduced, European countries saw soaring gas prices that devastated their economies and sparked a cost-of-living crisis. The German economy, which was based on relatively cheap Russian hydrocarbons, suffered greatly and is currently facing a de-industrialization trend.

continue:

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240401/sa...117684289.html

[Ravenlocke]

Text:

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov holds a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen before this met in Guangzhou with Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China He Lifeng. There she threatened the PRC with “serious consequences” if it turns out that Chinese business supports Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

According to Yellen, companies should not provide material support or other assistance to the Russian defense industry. The head of the Ministry of Finance also believes that China’s production capacity allegedly harms China itself and producers in other countries. And while Yellen stopped short of making any threats about creating new trade barriers, she said she would not rule out additional measures to protect the emerging U.S. supply chain for electric vehicles, batteries and other goods from cut-price Chinese imports.

He Lifeng expressed “serious concern” about the increasing restrictions on the part of the United States in the trade and economic sphere.

As for statements about China's excess capacity, the US tactics are an example of double standards, because the West itself has been using such a scheme for centuries. In principle, Yellen’s words clearly fit into the US policy of neocolonialism. Such attacks are an illustration of the fact that Washington continues to regard China as an entity dependent on them. The States are experiencing economic agony and their loss of global supremacy.

Beijing is not going to listen to such statements, and the United States does not have enough tools to implement its strategy, given the close connection of the two economies.

The development of Russian-Chinese cooperation is outside the jurisdiction of the United States, which, in addition, can only offer the PRC new duties and sanctions.

https://x.com/mazzenilsson/status/1777363824296767693

¤=[Post Update]=¤

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1777377444997070933

https://tass.com/economy/1772063?utm...m_social_share

Bank of Russia supports accelerating bill on international cryptocurrency payments

Elvira Nabiullina also noted that more than 98% of financial transactions inside Russia are routed through the Russian equivalent of SWIFT, the Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. The Bank of Russia advocates accelerating the adoption of the bill on international payments in cryptocurrencies, but the start of such payments must be carried out in an experimental legal regime, according to Governor of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina.

At the same time, international settlements in digital financial assets will be launched without an experimental regime. The Bank of Russia has already received three applications from companies to use digital financial assets in international economic settlements, according to First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Olga Skorobogatova. "We recently passed legislation that allows digital financial assets to be used in settlements for overseas economic activities in the absence of experimental legal frameworks. We've already received three applications from businesses interested in trying this," she said.

Nabiullina also noted that more than 98% of financial transactions inside Russia are routed through the Russian equivalent of SWIFT, the Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia (SPFS). "More than 98% of (financial) messages inside the country go through the SPFS now, with over 160 non-residents from 20 countries having joined the system," she said.

The regulator consistently creates conditions for international payments in national currencies, Nabiullina added. "Sanctions risks remain high when accounts in dollars, euros, as well as SWIFT, are used in the chain of payments," she noted.

The Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia has become the main channel for the exchange of financial information in carrying out payments on corresponding accounts inside Russia.

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
🇺🇸🌐BlackRock eats the world

BlackRock's managed assets have reached a record-breaking $10.5 trillion as of the first quarter of 2024.

This represents a 15% increase compared to the same period last year, and there has been a net inflow of $57 billion into their investment products.

multipolarmarket

https://x.com/dana916/status/1779661656672358491

[Vicus]

The arrival of Russian troops in Niger will reshape the US' regional calculations
Andrew Korybko
korybko.substack.com
Sat, 13 Apr 2024



africamap
While the possibly impending withdrawal of US forces from Niger is definitely a victory of sorts, the proverbial "Battle for the Sahel" in the New Cold War is likely far from over.


It was wondered last month whether the US could salvage its Nigerien base deal after the military authorities scrapped their partnership pact upon being disrespected by visiting American officials. The news that Russian instructors just entered the country on a training mission likely spells the end of the Pentagon's influence there. The departure of US troops might soon follow, though it's unclear whether it'll [be] due to the military authorities explicitly demanding it or voluntary to avoid Russia spying on them.


In any case, this is a monumental development since it means that Russian forces are now present in all three of the Sahelian Alliance/Confederation's states after deploying to its Malian core several years back and then entering Burkina Faso in January. Their bloc also withdrew from ECOWAS later that month too, which bolstered their credentials as a new regional integration framework for others to join if they're interested. The combined effect of all this is that Western influence in the Sahel was dealt a deathblow.



It's premature to pop the champagne, however, since the US is expected to pivot to the Ivory Coast as was explained here in mid-March two weeks before a top Alt-Media influencer wrote the same here in a way that indisputably plagiarized some of the aforesaid analysis. It's important to share a side-by-side comparison showing the three occasions where the second writer plagiarized the first, since those who were exposed to that later article might not be aware that its ideas were stolen from an earlier one:

* First Article: "Guinea is the top contender (to defect from ECOWAS) due to its recent political history and having the geographic capability to provide the neighboring Sahelian Alliance/Confederation with reliable sea access."


- Second Article: "Guinea already offers the geographical capacity to provide the alliance with credible maritime access. That will lead to the progressive extinction of the western-controlled, Nigeria-based ECOWAS."

* First Article: "The stage is therefore set for the US to deploy drones to France's Ivorian base on exaggerated anti-terrorist pretexts that really serve to keep the Sahelian Alliance/Confederation in check while also monitoring Russian activity there."


- Second Article: "What lies ahead for Empire? Perhaps US 'anti-terror' drones shared with Paris at the French base in the Ivory Coast to keep the Sahel alliance in check."

continue:
https://www.sott.net/article/490626-...l-calculations

[shaberon]

Posted by Vicus (here)
While the possibly impending withdrawal of US forces from Niger is definitely a victory of sorts, the proverbial "Battle for the Sahel" in the New Cold War...

Interesting re-configuration, but why does it need to be a "war"?

Russians have been invited over long distance into multiple countries, also in the guise of launching technical institutes and things like this. Not just military. Seems to be a "New African conversation", which is not particularly interested in battles of any kind. I guess France and the U. S. feel justified in saying "it belongs to them", and, any different idea is always "a war". Like the "War on Terrorism", an impossible thing with no goal, an abstract, unwinnable if not outright unperformable, especially while one is in the process of agitating terrorists.

Ivory Coast and probably Liberia remain comprador governments, and, I suppose there is a viper bite in Namibia. However, most of them seem to have found that sixty years of post-colonial influence has done nothing to help them with their problems, but, rather, kept them bogged down. Not sure the Germans figured that out yet.

[Ravenlocke]

Text:
US-UK sanctions against Russian metals to sting West and break dollar monopoly

The Anglo-American sanctions against Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel exports have already had a detrimental impact on Western economies and the dominance of the dollar, although its effect on the Russian economy remains to be seen.

The US Treasury Department on Friday slapped a ban on the import of Russian metals, resulting in the prohibition of trading Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel on the London Metal Exchange and Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

As a consequence, it is probable that the Shanghai Metals Market will receive increased supplies of Russian metals traded in Chinese yuan.

“There is always a way to work around sanctions. If something is desperately needed, people will find a way [to buy it],” explains Thomas Pauken, a consultant on Asia-Pacific affairs and author of a book on US-Chinese trade relations.

The very next day after the announcement of the Anglo-American restrictions against Russian metal exports, aluminum prices surged by 4.9% on the London Metal Exchange. When trading resumed on Monday, prices continued to climb by 5.44%, reaching levels seen prior to the sanctions. Additionally, nickel experienced an 8.8% increase.

This can make the sanctions against Russian metal industry useless, since the producers will compensate their losses from sanctions by the gains from higher prices.

“If the prices really skyrocket, then the sanctions never happened, they are a non-starter,” says Pauken.

He cites examples, when the anti-Russian sanctions helped the Chinese economy and led to the de-dollarization of trade between the two nations, stressing that such things happen “when a certain trade is not allowed, but still goes on.”

“I live in China, and my household electric bill is one-tenth of what Americans would have to pay. Russian energy supplies were very helpful for [the] Chinese economy.”


https://x.com/SputnikInt/status/1780302052163199295

[Ravenlocke]

I’m posting this news bit here if it doesn’t belong, mods please remove.


Text:
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, engaged in discussions with Pakistan’s Army Chief, Gen. #AsimMunir, during his visit to #Islamabad.

The talks centered on bolstering the robust cooperation between the two nations across various domains, with a particular focus on enhancing security and strategic collaboration to promote global peace and stability.

Prince Faisal’s visit to #Pakistan, spanning two days, aimed primarily at strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Apart from his meeting with Gen. #AsimMunir, Prince Faisal also held discussions with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The discussions underscored the commitment of #SaudiArabia and #Pakistan to deepen their cooperation across multiple fronts, reflecting the enduring partnership between the two nations.

#SaudiArabia #Pakistan #Dubai #ISPR #AsimMunir #Rawal #Islamabad #China #MiddleEast

https://x.com/AsianPolitico/status/1780947306998616251

[Vicus]

EU leadership must go - member state's PM
RT
Wed, 17 Apr 2024

The current bosses in Brussels have failed in all of their major projects, Hungary's Viktor Orban has said...

The EU needs new leadership as the bloc's current top officials have proven entirely unsuccessful, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed.
Orban made the comments at the European Parliament on Tuesday as part of a public discussion with Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the leader of the French National Rally party, Fabrice Leggeri.


Hungarian prime minister insisted:
"Now we have a leadership in the EU with some major projects selected by themselves like green transition, RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) policy, migration, war [in Ukraine] and sanctions policy, and they all failed. The present leadership of the European Union must go away. And we need new leaders."
Orban said he intends "to come and take over Brussels," reiterating his earlier warning to "occupy" the EU's key institutions with his allies in order to bring change to the bloc.


According to the Hungarian leader, the rule of law and conditionality system created by the current EU leadership has "proved to be... an instrument of political blackmailing. If you do not behave as we expect, you do not get the money."


Hungary has not received "a single penny" from the RRF because European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has openly voiced dissatisfaction with Budapest's reluctance to accept migrants and its opposition to the bloc's gender policies, he said.


The EU's green transition "has failed because it has gone against [the] economic and industrial" interests of the bloc, Orban added. A switch towards climate neutrality should not be "politically motivated," otherwise "it would destroy the competitiveness of the European economy. That is where we stand today," he explained.


In contrast to many other EU members, the Hungarian leader has refused to provide arms to Ukraine and has consistently criticized the bloc's sanctions against Russia over the conflict. According to Orban, the time has come for Brussels to define "what it should do with the issue of the war" in order to find a solution to the crisis and prevent similar ones in the future.


Even goodwill gestures may "cause difficulties for the European economy," such as the recent protests by farmers in Poland, France, Germany and other nations, partly caused by the preferences given by the EU to Ukrainian food suppliers, he explained.

Orban also insisted that the issue of aid to Kiev should be "separated as much as possible from the issue of Ukraine's accession to the EU," formal negotiations for which were approved last year.

https://www.sott.net/article/490739-...mber-states-PM