The hottest Sanctions Substack posts right now

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Chartbook 270: How Russia makes missiles - an important report from Rhodus Intelligence

Chartbook • 1187 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Military Manufacturing Imports Sanctions
  1. The war in Ukraine showcases Russia's significant advantage in missile production compared to Europe and the US.
  2. Russia's ability to sustain high levels of missile output is linked to its strategic importation of advanced CNC machines, particularly from the West and China.
  3. The Rhodus Intelligence report reveals the complex dynamics of Russia's military production surge, showcasing the importance of machine tools and imports in modern missile manufacturing.

Washington's $300 billion dilemma

The Dossier • 303 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Foreign Relations Sanctions Economic Policy Global Economy International Law
  1. Western powers imposed sanctions on Russia by freezing $300 billion of Russian assets in the US and Europe, aiming to weaken the Russian economy, but the impact on the Russian war effort has been limited.
  2. The idea of seizing Russia's frozen $300 billion stash is being considered by the Biden Administration and Congress as a punitive measure, but legalizing such action through Congress is required.
  3. Seizing the $300 billion would be an unprecedented event with potential far-reaching consequences, including implications on the U.S. dollar's status as a global reserve currency and market signals about its stability.

Biden's Dangerous Yemen Blunder Is Already Backfiring

Eunomia • 727 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Yemen Military Action Conflict Sanctions
  1. Attacking the Houthis in Yemen with threats and airstrikes is not stopping attacks on shipping and may escalate the situation.
  2. The U.S. designation of the Houthis as terrorists could further empower them politically and increase their popularity.
  3. The U.S. often relies on force and sanctions in international issues, but addressing the war in Gaza may be a more effective solution.
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How to win a war

kamilkazani • 923 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics War Alliances Sanctions
  1. Russia's military production could lead to victory in a war if not addressed
  2. Betting against US allies may alter global perceptions and US political influence
  3. Metalworking is crucial for weapon production and heavily reliant on Western imports

Dossier Center Investigation: Through diplomatic channels

Unmasking Russia • 334 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy Sanctions Business Corruption
  1. The son of Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev managed to cope with sanctions by receiving help from the family of the Norwegian ambassador, who provided ships for his work on the Arctic shelf.
  2. Nikolai Patrushev, a former FSB director and influential figure in Russia, has family members involved in important business dealings related to offshore projects in the Arctic.
  3. Connections between the son of the Norwegian ambassador to Russia and Andrey Patrushev are revealed in business transactions involving companies related to the Arctic shelf and oil and gas fields.

How North Korean Workers Tricked U.S. Companies into Hiring Them and Secretly Funneled Their Earnings into Weapons Programs

Zero Day • 1319 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics North Korea Money Laundering Sanctions
  1. North Korean IT workers tricked US companies into hiring them to secretly funnel money to North Korean weapons programs.
  2. They used elaborate methods to conceal their identities, such as fake profiles, stolen documents, and VPNs.
  3. The FBI discovered the scheme, seized funds, and warned that North Korean activity is still ongoing.

How Does Russia Make Missiles?

kamilkazani • 353 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌐 International Sanctions
  1. Russian military production relies on the ability to outproduce enemies on the factory floor.
  2. Long range missiles play a crucial role in Russia's nuclear deterrent strategy.
  3. Precision machining is a key chokepoint in the Russian war industry.

West votes against democracy, human rights, cultural diversity at UN; promotes mercenaries, sanctions

Geopolitical Economy Report • 797 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy Human Rights Sanctions Democracy Mercenaries
  1. The West voted against promoting democracy, human rights, and cultural diversity at the United Nations while supporting mercenaries and sanctions.
  2. In a UN session, resolutions condemning unilateral coercive measures (sanctions), promoting a democratic international order, and respecting human rights and cultural diversity were passed despite opposition.
  3. Another resolution condemned the use of mercenaries to violate human rights and impede peoples' right to self-determination, passing with majority support.

Dossier Center Translation: The British business of a new member of the Security Council

Unmasking Russia • 255 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Security Council Sanctions International relations
  1. Gennady Krasnikov is a member of the Russian Security Council without any sanctions imposed, but his family's business connections could potentially lead to complications.
  2. Krasnikov's wife owns a stake in a major Russian insurer through a British company connected to high-ranking security officials.
  3. Membership in the Security Council can prompt international sanctions, as seen with other members, making Krasnikov's position vulnerable.

The Insider: What a beauty these colors are! Tikkurila, Dulux, and Pinotex, contrary to statements, did not curtail their business in Russia

Unmasking Russia • 196 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Russia European Union Sanctions Ukraine International relations
  1. Tikkurila and AkzoNobel did not reduce their business in Russia, despite public statements
  2. Tikkurila continues to operate in Russia, importing foreign components and participating in local events
  3. AkzoNobel still sells paints in Russia and faces sanctions risks for receiving sanctioned components

Western sanctions failing: EU imports more Russian gas, China beats US tech war

Geopolitical Economy Report • 916 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Sanctions
  1. Western sanctions are backfiring as EU is importing Russian gas at record levels and China advances in tech despite US restrictions.
  2. Sanctions are seen as a key weapon in the new Cold War, but not all countries are equally affected - smaller nations suffer more than industrial giants like China and Russia.
  3. Despite US and EU sanctions, Europe is importing record amounts of Russian natural gas and China is excelling in high-tech chip production, showcasing the limitations and unintended consequences of sanctions.

The De-Kastri Mystery

Navigating Russia • 176 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Sanctions Russia Oil trade Risk Analysis
  1. The breakdown in Sakhalin-India oil trade likely stemmed from elevated risk perception in the shadow trade.
  2. Increased enforcement efforts could shrink the shadow fleet, impacting Russian oil revenues.
  3. Speculation suggests India demanding price-cap compliance led to the failed deliveries, causing distress for Russian oil exporters.

Dangerous Waters

Navigating Russia • 157 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Sanctions Russia Oil trade
  1. Recent OFAC sanctions have targeted Russian shadow tankers, causing increased risk and potential blocking orders for many vessels.
  2. Moscow's shadow trade faces higher freight rates, deeper price discounts, and more exposure to price cap restrictions.
  3. The Kremlin's oversight of ties to U.S.-based services has led to sanctions blunders and raised risk levels for all participants in the shadow trade.

What I Learned about how the U.S. Handled the Run-Up to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Drezner’s World • 845 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Intelligence Sanctions National Security Geopolitics
  1. The U.S. believed Putin invaded Ukraine due to perceptions of Russian weakness, not U.S. weakness.
  2. Intelligence was used effectively by the Biden administration to persuade allies and delay Russia's invasion.
  3. Biden officials concluded that pre-emptive sanctions wouldn't have deterred Russia and focused on seizing oligarchs' assets to highlight corruption.

TL;DRussia Weekend Roundup

TL;DRussia • 530 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Russia Economy Military Sanctions Ukraine
  1. The focus of the newsletter is on analyzing current events in Russia, particularly related to figures like Evgeny Prigozhin and Igor Girkin.
  2. The author discusses the Kremlin's approach to solving economic challenges, such as tax laws for non-resident citizens and interest rate hikes by the Central Bank.
  3. There is a comparison made between the analysis methods of the CIA Director and the author, emphasizing the importance of understanding immediate responses over relying solely on past patterns.

Trump boasts he wanted to take Venezuela's oil after overthrowing its government

Geopolitical Economy Report • 637 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Sanctions
  1. Former US President Donald Trump openly expressed his desire to control Venezuela's oil reserves, showing a clear motive behind the 2019 US coup attempt.
  2. The Trump administration's focus on Venezuela's oil resources was evident from various high-ranking officials' statements and actions, aiming to exploit the country's natural wealth.
  3. Venezuelan officials reacted strongly to Trump's statements, condemning them as evidence of US intentions to exploit their country's resources and urging for international legal action.

Chinese banks scrutinize trade payments from Russia: report

Pekingnology • 37 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China Russia Banks Payments Sanctions
  1. Chinese banks are closely reviewing trade payments from Russia, causing disruptions for Chinese companies involved in business transactions.
  2. Major Chinese banks, including state-owned ones, are halting payments from sanctioned Russian financial institutions, leading to challenges for traders in various regions of China.
  3. The heightened scrutiny on remittances related to Russia by Chinese banks reflects the changing regulatory environment post third quarter of last year, impacting cross-border transactions and requiring stricter due diligence.

Broken China/Paper Tiger: Capital Flight, Corporate Militias and Famine Signals

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 33 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics China Sanctions
  1. China's food security is a major concern due to limited resources like water and arable land. Dependence on importing food may pose risks.
  2. Lack of transparency in China's data makes it hard to assess the true state of the economy and demographic challenges.
  3. The decline in China's property sector and challenges with Belt and Road Initiative repayment are contributing to economic instability.

West vs the rest: World opposes sanctions, only US & Europe support them

Geopolitical Economy Report • 677 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Sanctions International Law Human Rights
  1. The UN Human Rights Council voted overwhelmingly to condemn sanctions, with only the US, UK, EU member states, Georgia, and Ukraine expressing support for unilateral coercive measures.
  2. Sanctions, violating international law, have a negative impact on human rights, especially affecting vulnerable populations like women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
  3. Global opposition against sanctions, with the majority of UN member states standing against unilateral coercive measures, demonstrates a clear West versus the rest divide in international relations.

Sanctions 'undermine hegemony of dollar', US Treasury admits

Geopolitical Economy Report • 637 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Sanctions Geopolitics Global Economy International relations Humanitarian Issues
  1. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged that unilateral sanctions could weaken the dominance of the dollar.
  2. Sanctions have caused millions of deaths around the world, with examples like Iraq and Venezuela.
  3. Yellen implied that US plans involve using some of Russia's seized foreign exchange reserves to fund Ukraine reconstruction, which could have geopolitical implications.

Europe pays more for banned Russian oil, resold by India - as EU wages fall

Geopolitical Economy Report • 538 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Sanctions Energy Inflation Wages
  1. Europe is indirectly purchasing Russian oil through India at higher prices despite sanctions, contributing to de-dollarization and falling wages.
  2. Russian oil exports to Asia, particularly China and India, have increased significantly due to Western sanctions, shifting away from Europe.
  3. Real wages in the EU have fallen by 6.5% from 2020 to 2022 due to rising energy costs and a severe cost-of-living crisis, impacting poorer households the most.

Chasing the Smugglers

False Positive • 59 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Export Controls Sanctions Financial Institutions
  1. Export controls are increasingly important due to the risk of dual-use technology being misused for military purposes.
  2. The enforcement of export controls can be enhanced by following the money trail through financial institutions.
  3. There are challenges in relying on financial institutions to detect export control violations due to issues like lack of expertise and practical challenges.

How Western sanctions blow back, hurting Europe, deepening Asian integration

Geopolitical Economy Report • 378 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
🌍 World Politics Sanctions Europe Asia Trade Global Finance
  1. Western sanctions against Russia led to increased trade with Asia but devastated Europe's economy
  2. Sanctions typically have a low success rate in changing the behavior of targeted states
  3. Sanctions can backfire and lead to unintended consequences like Russia's increased self-sufficiency and deepening Asian integration

February 17, 2024

Letters from an American • 13 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine Russia USA Elections Sanctions
  1. The events in Ukraine on February 18, 2014, were crucial in shaping the current geopolitical landscape.
  2. Paul Manafort's role in Ukrainian politics and connection to Russian interests had significant repercussions in US presidential campaigns.
  3. The continued conflict in Ukraine and Russia's invasion highlight the ongoing impact of past political decisions.

UN experts: US sanctions violate Iranians' human rights

Geopolitical Economy Report • 318 implied HN points • 27 Dec 22
🌍 World Politics Human Rights International Law Sanctions United Nations Global impact
  1. United Nations experts criticize US government sanctions for violating human rights of Iranians, emphasizing the negative impact on the right to a clean and healthy environment.
  2. UN special rapporteurs condemned US sanctions on Iran, stating they impede various rights such as health, life, education, and an adequate standard of living.
  3. US sanctions on Iran are called out for contradicting US claims to support environmental rights and pose obstacles that prevent Iranians from accessing their fundamental rights.

Europe and US meet with Venezuela's real President Maduro - desperate for lower oil prices, their coup attempt falters

Geopolitical Economy Report • 338 implied HN points • 10 Nov 22
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy Sanctions Regime Change
  1. France's President Macron, US's John Kerry, and Portugal's PM met with Venezuela's President Maduro to discuss lowering oil prices, despite past coup attempts.
  2. The West, including the US, France, and Portugal, is seeking alternatives to Russian oil as the EU faces a deadline to cut off imports and cope with high energy costs.
  3. Western powers, after years of trying to overthrow Venezuela's government, are now engaging in friendly dialogue with President Maduro due to economic interests and the need to reduce oil prices.

87% of world doesn't support West's new cold war on Russia

Geopolitical Economy Report • 338 implied HN points • 23 Sep 22
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Global South Neutrality Sanctions
  1. 87% of the world does not support the West's new cold war on Russia.
  2. New multilateral institutions like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS are gaining importance for countries in the Global South.
  3. There's a shift in the global financial landscape with a decline in US dollar hegemony and countries exploring alternatives like bilateral currency swaps.

UN expert: 'Outrageous' Western sanctions are 'suffocating' Syria, may be crimes against humanity

Geopolitical Economy Report • 279 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
🌍 World Politics Sanctions Humanitarian Crisis Middle East International Law
  1. The UN expert condemned Western sanctions on Syria as 'outrageous' and harmful, possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.
  2. Sanctions have led to drastic economic downturn in Syria, with 90% living below the poverty line and essential goods becoming scarce.
  3. The impact of sanctions extends to critical areas such as healthcare, education, and basic services like water and electricity, putting the Syrian population in life-threatening conditions.

February 2, 2024

Letters from an American • 10 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Iran Sanctions Middle East Conflict
  1. The U.S. military conducted strikes on multiple targets in Syria and Iraq connected to attacks on U.S. personnel, aiming to degrade capabilities and send a message to stop the attacks.
  2. Targets were selected carefully to avoid civilian casualties, showing a strategic approach to the military action.
  3. The U.S. administration seeks to prevent conflicts with Iran by responding to attacks on U.S. troops, imposing sanctions, and cutting off funding for paramilitary groups.