Russia Resorts to Desperate Threats to Cut Off Europe's Gas Supply

[babylonsister]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-resorts-to-desperate-threats-to-cut-off-europes-gas-supply?ref=home

Russia Resorts to Desperate Threats to Cut Off Europe’s Gas Supply
LOSING POWER
Jamie Ross
News Correspondent
Published Mar. 08, 2022 5:24AM ET

Russia has lashed out with a threat to cut off Europe’s gas supply if Western allies push ahead with further sanctions. The U.S. has urged its European allies to ban Russian oil imports over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but the Kremlin said it would retaliate if any such move went ahead. Speaking on state television, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak warned that a ban on Russian oil would lead to “catastrophic consequences” for global energy prices, and said the Kremlin was prepared to “impose an embargo on gas pumping through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline,” which carries natural gas from Russia to Germany. Last month, Germany halted the certification of $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline in a previously unthinkable economic sanction against Russia.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Putin: "Give me what I want or else..."

So Putin has perfected the art of EXTORTION? The West gives him back the once Soviet Union and they get their Natural Gas back. The cost of Freedom and Democracy comes at a cost. Morally as well. Fund Putin's lust for world domination or freeze.

Reminds me of the scene in '300' where the Persian emissary to King Xerses tells King Leonidas of Sparta about Earth and Water if the Spartans surrender. The Ukrainians and the rest of the Western and Eastern European countries are not keen on surrendering. Not yet I pray.

Choose your words wisely, Vladimir.

[C_U_L8R]

2. A narcissistic way of negotiating.

Demanding everything, offering nothing.

[jpak]

3. Block that gas revenue fucking idiot.

Putin cuts off nose to spite face

Yup

[Phoenix61]

5. This.

If that was the only financial loss Russia was getting hit with it wouldn’t matter, but it’s not. They have a finite number of revenue streams or, more accurately, had a finite number. If Putin cuts this one off, what’s left? If China agreed today to dramatically increase it’s imports from Russia it would take time to implement. Logically, from China’s perspective, it makes more sense to wait until Russia’s economy craters before making any agreement. So while China says they are in talks they play the long game. I’m more inclined to think they see this as an opportunity to cripple Russia thus ensuring a long-term supple source of cheap resources.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Russia and China think they have the financial upper hand over the West?

Russia sells gas to Europe and can cut it off.

China and the US have an enmeshed financial system. Including the fact that China owns over a $1 trillion of US debt. If we ever had to put sanctions on China they could call in that debt which would cause problems for the US?

[Phoenix61]

6. It would also cause huge problems for China.

They tank our economy and who’s going to buy all their stuff? Russia? Their economy is in free fall.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Yes but it is the threat of doing something that scares people, like Putin is doing with nukes.

He is threatening to use nukes which would hurt him with our retaliation. But just the threat of taking nuke action is getting compliance.

China and Russia would use threats as a way to get others to roll over.

[Phoenix61]

8. Threatening to turn vast areas of land into

uninhabitable waste lands is vastly different from threatening to call in a bank note.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Some say that China dumping our debt would be an act of war.

Money talks big time in the US. Look at the big tizzy people are in over gas prices.
China calling in the debt would have a big psychological and financial impact.

If it happened under a Dem POUTUS, the GOP would hammer that home during election time and we could lose a lot of seats.

[Phoenix61]

10. People have been taught to fear nuclear war.

From bomb shelters in Florida to school children hiding under their desks during the Cold War. Throw in photos of Japan after they were bombed and years of Hollywood depictions of nuclear winter with the end of civilization as we know it, and it evokes a visceral response. Talk about calling in notes early and the vast majority of Americans have no idea what you are talking about.