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Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

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Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#81

Anyone who's been paying attention I believe would agree that our foreign policy around Ukraine has come at a huge cost not only to us financially and economically, but also to our foreign relations. Under this conflict our relations with China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia -- these are important partners -- have degraded. Having watched that unfold, this isn't a surprise to me.

Sometimes it's okay to assume that cost, if it means standing on the right side morally. As an Indian, I detest the Russian invasion. In fact, a number of Indians do, and it's only a few vocal fanatics who seem to support Russia's invasion. None of us thought Russia would be stupid enough to invade Ukraine, and we all thought it was a ploy to raise oilprices by making up "tensions at the border". And trust me, the We…

> India has begun programmes in every front to dispose of Russian military tech

I've been wondering about that. I imagined that countries buying weapons from Russia would be worried and considering to pivot to another seller. Maybe this not because of the poor display of those weapons in combat, after all they just must be not worse than the weapons of the neighbors or of the other internal factions, but because they could run out of spare parts and new items. If Russia doesn't have enough weapons to refill its own losses, it can sell some to get money, but not as much as one year ago.

I don't think that China is an option for India, so maybe the USA, something from Europe or internal production. The latter would be best because of no strings attached, but is it feasible in the short / medium term?

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#82
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is the largest oil producer in the world, one of the largest producers of food, one of the top innovators, has relatively healthy demographics, is surround by allies (one of which produces oil and fertilizer), and has the most dominant military on the planet. Your outlook is significantly more gloomy than reality

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It's ridiculous to consider Canada or Mexico (or if we extend this farther, the EU and Japan) "vassal states". All of these countries participate in the US Capitalist regime willingly because they get rich too.

By your standard, do any of the considered "major alternative powers" (China or Russia) have allies?

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While this is all true, "cashing in" on any of those advantages is not something that can be done peacefully, so perhaps a gloomy outlook is warranted.

I don't understand? The US can disrupt food/oil/financial markets/innovation more than any other planet on earth. All of these can be flexed peacefully

Disruption of financial markets is not a precision weapon, and it frequently backfires. Currency wars aligning with multipolar powers makes them even more disruptive. Once the US defense of the dollar turns from theoretical to reality, it necessitates violence. You can say "the USD has all this power as a reserve currency because of US military power projection," and it may be true, but once other powers start to align and actively compete with the dollar as the reserve currency, the US needs to actively respond. And that means making good on their threats, not just projecting them. Thus, global financial instability leads to violence.

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While this is all true, "cashing in" on any of those advantages is not something that can be done peacefully, so perhaps a gloomy outlook is warranted.

I don't understand? The US can disrupt food/oil/financial markets/innovation more than any other planet on earth. All of these can be flexed peacefully

>more than any other planet on earth

Take a look at the space around you. How many of the items you see were made in the US?

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#85
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well. China relationship is strained for many reasons, Ukraine and their general support for Russia conducting the war is just icing on the cake. This has strained Chinese relations with multiple countries though (UK, EU members, etc.). India I’m not seeing much in the way of change. The US at least didn’t really do anything different with India buying Russian oil. US relations with South American companies are varia…

On the contrary this looks like the beginning of the end of USA global hegemony. The dollar relevance is degrading and while the west is siding closer with the USA, the rest of the world is distancing itself from them. > On the other hand, the US has shored up massive support from all of Europe ex Belarus, Japan Regarding Japan this very news article contradicts you somehow. > Finland joins NATO tomorrow. Finland is…

> Finland is insignificant from a geopolitical point of view. Its joining NATO only makes NATO less secure as a whole, rather than strenghtening it.

This makes zero sense. Please elaborate.

> The dollar relevance is degrading

Can you give some facts and figures to support this ? Because as I understand then the world would be tradin in multiple currencies for Oil&Gas.

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While this is all true, "cashing in" on any of those advantages is not something that can be done peacefully, so perhaps a gloomy outlook is warranted.

I don't understand? The US can disrupt food/oil/financial markets/innovation more than any other planet on earth. All of these can be flexed peacefully

Yeah, but the popular narrative now is that China is the real super power because they have a strong autocratic leader and aren't bogged down by democracy, and don't have to deal with other people's uneducated opinions.

Not that they have a mountain of shadow debt built upon the biggest housing bubble the world has ever seen (by far) and an absolute demographic time bomb about to blow up their future...

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#87
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary this looks like the beginning of the end of USA global hegemony. The dollar relevance is degrading and while the west is siding closer with the USA, the rest of the world is distancing itself from them. > On the other hand, the US has shored up massive support from all of Europe ex Belarus, Japan Regarding Japan this very news article contradicts you somehow. > Finland joins NATO tomorrow. Finland is…

> Its joining NATO only makes NATO less secure as a whole, rather than strenghtening it. Why is that?

It doesn't bring additional strength to the table, rather it's a country in need of protection. This means now every other NATO country has a higher chance of being forced in a defensive war if something happens to Finland. On the other hand Finland won't be able to contribute much to protect other NATO countries. Hence, NATO countries are a bit less safe now.

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#89
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US-NATO/EU relations, in contrast, have rarely been stronger, and a long-standing US goal of increasing European defense spending has now become feasible. China and the Saudis are unlikely to somehow turn into genuine friends, and in China's case specifically the unified stance in Ukraine (as well as the "it's harder to invade than you might think" message) sends a bit of a message in the case of Taiwan. The trade-of…

I wonder where is the money to increase the spending? Even more insane level of debt? Even more suffering with inflation and lessening of public services?

Inaction has a price, too. Russia has even helpfully provided a concrete example of the costs of it.

Re: Japan Breaks with U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap

#90
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand? The US can disrupt food/oil/financial markets/innovation more than any other planet on earth. All of these can be flexed peacefully

>more than any other planet on earth Take a look at the space around you. How many of the items you see were made in the US?

And? Access to food and energy is significantly more important that new consumer goods
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