How Russia has Benefitted From the War
The rise in oil prices combined with shortages have allowed Russia to gain more profit from their own oil sales, and the shortages have increased smuggling incentives to evade US sanctions. But wait! Trump appears to be coming to the rescue by using the shortages to say he is going to wave sanctions on India and China for buying Russian oil. Politico explains:For Russia, the surge in oil prices amounts to an economic windfall at a crucial moment, as the cost of four years of war in Ukraine threatened to spill over into a domestic economic crisis.
The assault on Iran may undermine Moscow’s claim to stand by its allies, but it is already benefiting Russia’s economy and, by extension, its war against Ukraine — leaving the Kremlin well placed to emerge as one of the main beneficiaries of the expanding conflict in the Middle East.
And Trump knows that Iran is getting satellite intelligence from Russia on the location of US ships and forces.
Even worse, late this week, Trump’s hand picked Sec of the Treasury, Scott Bessent allowed the “temporary purchases” of Russian oil already at sea in sanctioned, illegal cargo ships to “stabilize energy markets,” once again, handing Russia another benefit from this war.
Joel Skousen World Affairs Brief Friday the 13th