Sanctions against Russia show Western divisions

The Europeans did not want to exclude Russia from the Swift banking system. Whether India is completely on the side of the US government on the Ukraine crisis, “we’re not quite sure yet.” He would not comment on whether he had asked China to join in sanctions against Russia.

In his Thursday press conference US President Biden couldn’t hide the fact that unity in the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, though professed, is in fact far from forged. When he took office as president, Biden said America was “back” and that his country “will lead again.” In the worst international crisis in decades, the practice proved to be more unruly. The leadership of the United States cannot be taken for granted. More.

Read also Where is Europe after the Russian invasion?

Whether it’s mainly because of the toxic diplomatic legacy of the Iraq war, started on American lies, the crass performance of President Trump on the international stage, or the damage Biden did himself with the controversial and bloody withdrawal from Afghanistan. , now it appears that the Americans lack the power and persuasion to create a united response against aggressor Russia. The protests against the Russian invasion sound in unison, the measures are a reflection of the division.

skepticism

It started with the fact that in recent months Europeans did not want to believe in the grim scenarios that the US government was putting out. The firm statements about the Russians’ war plans were met here and there in Europe with skepticism about this “hype”. Yet Russian aggression has unfolded in much the same way as US Secretary of State Tony Blinken outlined at the UN Security Council last week. Apparently the US has reliable information from Moscow.

Read also Propaganda war has already started

Last week was mainly about the instrument of sanctions with which Russia would have to pay. On Thursday, Biden explained that those sanctions “have been carefully designed to maximize the long-term impact on Russia and minimize the impact on the US and our allies.” Responding to further questions from journalists, Biden said that while considering removing Russia from the Swift system, “the rest of Europe does not want to take that position at the moment.”

In the arms of China

In an analysis be The Wall Street Journalpointed out on Thursday that several former employees of the US Treasury Department also had doubts about the impact of a Swift ban. The impact on the global economy could be very significant, especially for oil and gas trade, of which Russia is the world’s largest exporter. It would also drive Russia into the arms of China, the US’s main economic rival, in the financial market.

This is how Biden navigates, dealing with international as well as national issues. Domestically, he definitely wants to prevent petrol prices from rising even further – thereby further driving inflation. Biden said on Tuesday that he wanted to limit “the pain Americans feel at the gas pump” in the first package of sanctions he announced.

ttn-32