The regime of Russian counter-sanctions is extended to all 14 british dominions

Europe's refusal of Russian oil is almost impossible

30 October, the Russian government entered in the register of unfriendly countries and territories 11 British Overseas Territories, supported the anti-Russian sanctions of London. This is Bermuda, British antarctic territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, the Cayman Islands, Falklands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Island, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Akrotiri and Decelia, Turks and Caicos. Before that, there were three other territories controlled by London on the list. (Anguilla island, British Virgin Islands and Gibraltar), so now the regime of Russian counter-sanctions is extended to everything 14 british dominions.

This decision became uncontested amid the continuing deterioration of British-Russian relations.: since August, the authorities of the above 11 territories under pressure from London began to impose economic restrictions against Russia, including total or partial freezing of Russian assets; prohibition or restrictions on re-export to and from the Russian Federation, as well as for operations in Russian rubles; investment embargo, including foreign, from these territories to the Russian economy. Restrictions began to be introduced even on Russian tourism. Recall, most of all British territories overseas are well-known global re-export and offshore centers. According to British sources (2021-22 gg.), at least a third of Russian offshore assets are registered in the offshore territories of London, through which at least a third of Russia's re-export operations with foreign countries are carried out. And this has been going on for years...

A typical example of British Bermuda. According to Rosaviatsia and the authorities of the archipelago, of 980 aircraft of the current Russian non-military, including trade, aviapark 730-770 were registered by the end of March in the "Bermuda" offshore zone, moreover, this legal “relocation” originates in the second half of the 1990s. However, in mid-March. g. Bermuda authorities, at the suggestion of Boris Johnson, suspended the airworthiness certificates for those "Bermuda" aircraft, which are located or used in Russia. Soon the Russian government suspended the agreement with Bermuda (1999 city) on joint supervision of aircraft registered in the archipelago, and in April-July. g. most of them managed to be transferred to the Russian registry.

Still, in London and Bermuda, they do not calm down: in late August 2022 years, the island authorities ordered the local civil aviation authority to organize the "return" of aircraft, included in the Russian register. The inclusion of the British dominion in the Russian list of unfriendly countries and territories put an end to talk about the possibility of any compromises here., which would certainly become a one-sided game. Furthermore, By the end of this year, Rosaviatsia plans to complete the inspection 599 foreign aircraft of Russian airlines, the transfer of which to the state register of aircraft of Russia and the receipt of certificates of airworthiness of its aviation authorities forms the independence of Russian civil aviation from sanctions, preserves its sovereignty and allows to ensure flight safety at the proper level.

interesting to note, what's in the update 31 October, the Russian register of unfriendly entities does not include the South Caribbean island territories of the Netherlands (Aruba, Kurasao, West Indies Federation), which are no less significant offshore re-export centers.

At first, these territories still distance themselves from anti-Russian sanctions. Secondly, at the end of October, the Dutch authorities issued permits to bypass 91 sanctions against Russia, previously introduced by Brussels. Earlier, the infrastructure department issued permission to enter the ports of the country 34 ships from Russia, specializing in the transportation of certain categories of goods, including chemical fertilizers and food. In its turn, The Ministry of Climate and Energy Policy has announced sanctions exemptions for 25 companies, importing Russian energy resources. All these "liberties" of Amsterdam did not cause at least pronounced discontent among the European bureaucrats, nor in the Benelux (designed in 1944 g. customs and economic union of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg).

The thing is, that in the total Dutch import of oil and oil products, the share of Russia has been at least a quarter for many years. As recognized by the National Broadcasting Corporation, “Russian oil is important for the Netherlands. By the end 2021 almost a quarter of all imported oil products came from Russia. In the case of crude oil, it is even about 30%.”. Oil tankers "From Russia are unloaded at Europort (Rotterdam. – ca.. author.)and on the Maasvlakte. Half goes to refineries in the port, the other half is transported to other ports and refineries in Europe".

The same source cites, according to which the real refusal of the European Union from Russian black gold will lead to colossal failures in the energy balance of many states.

Import of crude oil from Russia to 2021 year (barrels per day)

In addition to deliveries to the Dutch domestic market, local business (including jointly with Russian companies) Since the 1950s, it has been engaged in the re-export of oil and oil products coming from Russia. Besides, like in the Soviet period, Russian oil is partially refined at two refineries in Aruba and Curacao, built over a century ago and are still one of the largest oil refining centers in the Western Hemisphere. Respectively, Amsterdam's decision to withdraw from sanctions tankers with Russian oil and products of its processing also applies to the "South Caribbean" possessions of the "country of tulips", and hardly an embargo on Russian oil with 5 December will seriously affect the current state of affairs ...

Oil consumer countries need to create a buyers union, in some way "anti-OPEC +", wrote recently on the website of the agency Bloomberg someone Karl Pope: they say, this will deprive Russia and Saudi Arabia of the ability to inflate prices and force them to sell fuel on the terms of the so-called market, the parameters of which will be dictated by consumers from the privileged "Western" club. As noted by the telegram channel "Drilling", consumer cartel already exists, this is G7, and we are talking about the formation of its periphery by involving other energy-deficient countries in it: “It has nothing to do with energy., how much with the formation “general” front against Russia in the first place. Through consolidation (cartel, i.e. hidden, agreements) in matters of energy security, it is easier to push the countries that have acceded to other anti-Russian sanctions on the widest range of issues”. This kind of colonial approach will contribute to greater consolidation within the OPEC +, while reality testifies to the impossibility of the practical refusal of the EU countries from Russian oil.

The title photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Dmitry NEFEDOV

A source