A “perfect storm of Russian aggression during the coming winter months” is all but inevitable. Watch it on your screens while you properly freeze.
By Pepe Escobar and extensively cross-posted
As much as with “brain dead” NATO (copyright Emmanuel Macron) no one ever lost precious assets betting on the incompetence, narrow-mindedness and cowardice of political “leaders” across the Atlanticist EU.
There are two main reasons for the latest German legalese gambit of suspending the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
- Retaliation, directly against Belarus and Russia, “guilty” of the disgraceful refugee drama at the Poland-Belarus border.
- Politicking by the German Greens.
A high-ranking European energy executive told me, “this a game where Germany does not hold a winning hand. Gazprom is very professional. But imagine if Gazprom decided to deliberately slow down their deliveries of natural gas. It could go up tenfold, collapsing the entire EU. Russia has China. But Germany does not have a workable contingency plan.”
This ties up with a proposal that is sitting at a crucial desk in Moscow for approval for two years now, as I reported at the time: an offer by a reputable Western energy firm of $700 billion for Russia to divert their oil and gas exports to China and other Asian customers, away from the EU.
This proposal was actually the key reason for Berlin to resolutely counteract the U.S. drive to stop Nord Stream 2. Yet the torture never stops. Russia now faces an additional hurdle: a carbon tax on exports to the EU which include steel, cement and electricity. That may well be extended to oil and natural gas.
Every sentient being across the EU knows that Nord Stream 2 is the easiest path to lower natural gas prices across Europe, and not the EU’s blind neoliberal bet of buying short term in the spot market.
“They are going to freeze”
Seems like the Bundesnetzagentur, the German energy regulator, woke up from a deep slumber just to find out that the Swiss-based company Nord Stream 2 AG did not meet the conditions to be an “independent transmissions operator” and could be certified only if it was “organized in a legal form under German law.”
The fact that neither the Germans nor the Swiss company were aware of it during the long, previous, always turbulent stages is very hard to believe. So now it looks like Nord Stream 2 AG will have to establish a subsidiary under German law only for the German section of the gas pipeline.
As it stands, the company is not “in a position” to comment on details and especially “the timing of the start of the pipeline operations.”
Nord Stream 2 AG will have to transfer capital and personnel to this new subsidiary, which will then have to present a full set of documentation for certification all over again.
Translation: gas from Nord Stream 2 will be absent during the coming winter in Europe and the pipeline, at best, might start running only by mid-2022.
And that certainly ties in with the politicking angle, as the German regulators are de facto waiting for the new German ruling coalition to emerge, including the neoliberal Greens who are viscerally anti-Nord Stream and anti-Russia.
The European energy executive did not mince his words on a quite possible scenario: “If Germany does not obtain their oil and natural gas by land now they cannot fashion a fall back position, as there is not sufficient LNG capacity or oil for that matter to supply the EU this winter. They are going to freeze. Much of their economy will be forced to shut down. Unemployment will soar. It would take four years to build up LNG capacity for natural gas but who will build it for them?”
Germany has zero margin of maneuver to dictate conditions to Gazprom and Russia. The gas that Gazprom won’t sell to northern Europe will be sold to eastern and southern Europe via Turk Stream, and most of all to Asian clients, which do not engage in blackmail and pay much better than the Europeans.
What is also clear is that if by a misguided political decision Nord Stream 2 gas is eventually blocked, the fines to be collected by Gazprom from the European consortium that begged for the construction of the pipeline may exceed 200 billion euros. The consortium is made up of Engie, Shell, Uniper, Wintershall Dea and OMV.
It’s against this background that the offer on the table in Moscow becomes even more than a game-changer. The bold recommendation to the Kremlin – with financing already in place – is that Russia’s natural resources including oil and natural gas should be redirected to China, as part of the Russia-China strategic partnership.
The proposal argues that Russia needs no trade with the EU, as China is way ahead of them in most advanced technologies. That certainly provides Moscow with the upper hand in any negotiations with any German government. As I mentioned it to the European energy executive, his terse comment was, “I doubt they will desire to commit suicide.”
It’s all Putin’s fault
It would be too much to expect from German and EU politicians the clear-sightedness of the government of Serbia, which is considering importing 3 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually for 10 years. Gazprom has been on the record for years demonstrating the practical, reliable and cost-conscious aspects of long-term contracts.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, commenting on the migrant crisis at the Poland-Belarus border, noted how “Poland behaves outrageously, while the leadership in Brussels applies double standards that are so apparent and naked that they can’t fail to understand that they are embarrassing themselves.”
The case of Nord Stream 2 adds extra layers to EU self- embarrassment as it concerns the wellbeing of populations already living inside Fortress Europe. Let them freeze, indeed – or pay virtual fortunes for natural gas that should be readily available.
As we all know, Germany, Nord Stream 2, Ukraine, Belarus, it’s all interlinked. And according to a Ukrainian lunatic profiting from an Atlanticist platform, it’s all Putin’s fault – guilty of conducting hybrid war against the EU.
It will be up to the “resolve of Poland and Lithuania” to “counter the Kremlin threat”. The ideal framework in this case should be the Lublin Triangle – which unites Poland and Lithuania with Ukraine. These are the lineaments of the new Iron Curtain, erected by the Atlanticists, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, to “isolate” Russia. Predictably, German Atlanticists are a crucial part of the package.
Of course, to be successful, these actors should “also seek greater U.S. and UK engagement”, with every movement complementing “the role of NATO as the ultimate guarantor of peace in the region”.
So behold, EU mortals: a “perfect storm of Russian aggression during the coming winter months” is all but inevitable. Watch it on your screens while you properly freeze.
It wasn’t all that long ago that governments at least pretended to care about their subjects, errrh, citizens. That facade has been dropped all over the western world.
its about time,
the slaves, i mean the citizens, have been living in a drunken stupor of their own ignorance
a frigid reminder of their status may be the only mechanism to finally force them to wake up
Not.
The current crisis at the Polish Belarus border is an Empire OP with only one goal: To Cancel NS2
NS2 is actually a German industry demand, and the ultimate goal of the Globalist Elite is to destroy Germany during ‘her transition’ into ‘green energy.
The spear for the Green Foley is the German Green party which has been financed by the USAID and SOROS since before year 2000.
However, wind and solar energy is absolutely insufficient to replace Germany’s lost energy supply from the shutdown of its nuclear facilities.
At this moment old German coal power plants are expanding their production to keep Germany running.
Talk about transition into clean energy. Das Green Wende ist einem Fata Morgano.
When reality sets in for the Germans, German industry will have collapsed by lack of energy.
A collapse of the German industry eliminates the engine for Germany to ever becoming a competitor to the Anglo Empire.
The Brits and the EU imports gas from Norway and Denmark, including large amounts of Russian gas.
However, “Privatized” UK and EU Energy futures are now hammering a furious population, as winter heating and electricity use escalates, in northern Nation.
The Globalist Elite is out to destroy the western civilization by destroying its energy supply, economy and society before they leave for China, with their theft (QE) from western Central Banks.
Corporation between Europe and Russia is a catastrophe for the Globalist Elite.
This must be avoided whatever the price, including World war.
They are going to be sorely disappointed if they think they can flee to China after making a mess of the collective West. Given all the completely harebrained, and frankly retarded strategies they continue to employ to destabilize China, Russia and other sovereign nations, the more parsimonious answer is that the goal to enslave everyone under the yoke of their windmill powered data centers and Metaverse. And given that China has, among other things, pulled the plug on children playing video games, they’re out (despite some execs at Tencent and other companies eager to ride the Meta virtual gravy train).
Lastly, how about we stop calling them “Globalists” because they are clearly nothing of the sort. You can maybe go with our host’s AngloZionists nomenclature or something as it clearly identifies the who and their messianic complex. It is quite clear the Germans are just good soldiers taking orders. And those presently not colonized are not keen to have it happen again.
@ Krungle
The Saker has a point in calling “them” Anglo Zionist, because the Imperial force of today is centered around what is usually named the Anglos and the Zionist.
However, this force of Fascism was invented in Ancient Rome, and adopted by the Papal Institution in liaison with European Royalty during the time of German Emperor Frederik Barbarossa.
It spread with the Royal dynasties and the Catholic religion throughout Europe.
It was enforced by creating secret societies (Free-masonic Agents) and by incorporating Jewish wealth.
It created the Holy Roman Empire of Emperor Charlemagne. Charlemagne is the farther figure of the EU today.
The Angles were originally from southern Denmark, but invaded Britain and settled in East Anglia.
The Saxons were originally from northern Germany, but invaded Britain and settled in Sex: Essex (East), Wessex (West) and Sussex (South) of London. The Queen of the British Empire of today, is of Saxon heritage.
In Northern Germany, Martin Luther started an uprising against the Papal indulgence (Paying for your sins). The new Christian religion spread to the Nordic Nations, thereby creating the Lutheran church of today.
However, Fascism spread with the new settlers from Italy, Britain, and Germany to America, where the Freemasonic Agents of the European Royalty created the USA.
Many of the US elite families, like the Bush Family and Hillary Clinton, are also of Saxon heritage.
As you see, the Fascist “Roman Empire” has been growing for each generation since the fall of Rome.
It is now trying once again to conquer Russia And China, in order to get control over the entire globe.
That is why I call them Globalists.
They are also a mix of old Royal, Papal, Jewish, and free-masonic Dynasties, who have made their enormous fortunes by plundering every nation they have entered.
That is why I call them the Globalist Elite.
Yes there are Anglos and Zionists involved in the Fascist Empire, but that is only part of the conspiracy.
The good news is that the world is waking up and realizing who “They” are.
End of Lesson.
Perfect!
Green Energy is guaranteed depopulation.
I pine for the good ole days when a politician’s career ended at the end of a rope.
G.K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936) wrote that “It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged”
Makes me wonder how long ago those good old days were.
It seems that the good politcians were killed at that time, and only the bad ones survived….
I’m left speechless at how the West and especially Europe have the nerve to demand from Russia.
Every day some lackey says “Russia this, Russia that, don’t do this, don’t do that, Russia must, Russia must not”…
They said NordStream was about 95-99% completed a few months ago, now they’re saying it could take months to be “certified”. That doesn’t make sense. Obviously NordStream’s completion (or failure) is a code sign for something else.
Meanwhile, Europe pays for its stupidity.
Its like cutting off your nose despite your face.
….. But imagine if Gazprom decided to deliberately slow down their deliveries of natural gas. It could go up tenfold, collapsing the entire EU. But Germany does not have a workable contingency plan …….
…… And that certainly ties in with the politicking angle, as the German regulators are de facto waiting for the new German ruling coalition to emerge, including the neoliberal Greens who are viscerally anti-Nord Stream and anti-Russia.
Didn’t the responsible Germans choose in elections that were “legal” what to do? Isn’t it a shame that Germany is warned and persuaded from so many sides not to be a vassal. They want to be part of the Angloamerican world. How much time and money is wasted and what is the point of Russia’s policy of EAU associating with Germany or France? To push them, growing up ba….lls? Germany is no longer a military problem, it is a potential target for Russian missiles. The Germans don’t think so. They do not want to declare neutrality. Maybe they know that there is nothing to fear from Russia, maybe we are mistaken on this site? What has Russian politics been trying to do since Gorbachev? Why? Because of the influence on central Slavic Europe which will more easily swallow bait with Germany in the west? Because of China? The Silk Road without the European part has no point in expanding to the west or? Or is it a problem of an esoteric nature and business fraternities? So why is Russia day after day explaining to the rest of the world what are the western partners like? .Aren’t we all familiar with that already?
Let see when the Russian government will raise the issue of reparations for genocide in the Second World War? Or will they build a future without it, like Serbs with Croats? Aren’t Anglo-Zionists good players? They created oportunities to put so many wedges in the wheels of any Russian-German or Russian-Turkish progress. And the Germans and the Turks are not even trying to remember that.
https://t.me/rian_ru/130621
The Germany of today reminds me of Poland 200 – 300 years ago – divided and ruled from outside by design. They appear incapable of ruling themselves for their own good. They will now be torn apart and may even disintigrate into the fragments that existed prior to Bizmark. They have Quislings at all levels. They’re finished and will be a miongrel nation thanks to Mutti Merkel. But that is the plan I believe…
This is as aspect of the view of my Moscow correspondent, namely:
“The behavior of German authorities seems very irrational. However, they know that Gazprom is ready to begin gas pumping via NS-2 just in a couple of days after it gets the permission. May be the authorities prefer to hold the “option of waiting”. They prefer to wait for winter and make a choice depending on the weather. If it is cold, the regulator will concede. Otherwise, it will wait for the spring and make again a choice depending on the situation in the spot market. If it improves for Europe, then they will be able to further delay opening of NS-2.
“Of course, such behavior is short-sighted, because Germany would get strategic benefits from NS-2 in its potential role as a European gas hub. Probably, ***the new ruling coalition cannot yet determine its preferences and strategic choices with regard to Russia and Germany’s energy policy.***
I have no idea either about the Western entity ready to pay 700 billion dollars to Gazprom that Pepe Escobar mentions. I haven’t heard about such an offer to Gazprom. Sounds unbelievable. Such a deal has never occurred before. Gazprom’s total export revenue was around 42 billion dollars in 2019, implying that the payment for leaving the European market is 17 times above the annual volume of export! “
changing the domicile of the organization is not hard – all the operations and assets are already listed elsewhere – but the liability changes potentially drastically – so an event gets – manufactured – for a lawsuit with catastrophic damages which results in foreclosure on the assets in some contrived kangaroo court.
a la Volkswagen tripped by regulations and software which turns into insane damages after 100+ years operation
this game doesnt work for stability
The so-called ‘West’ is increasingly sitting in a pile of it’s own doo doo.
For the elites of the West, any weakening of Russia is ok. No problem that their industry goes under, that people freeze to death, that you can’t get food for reasonable prices, that you just have to stay at home, the russophobie must triumph.
This is only valid IF the elites in command do not lose anything.
“…the Lublin Triangle – which unites Poland and Lithuania with Ukraine”.
Ah – the return of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth
I think the following map gives us a broad hint what the Poles and Baltics have on their agenda: engulfing Belarus.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/dd/Polish-Lithuanian_Commonwealth_at_its_maximum_extent.svg/1280px-Polish-Lithuanian_Commonwealth_at_its_maximum_extent.svg.png
Glancing once more at the map I mentioned, isn’t it interesting to notice that today the Polish border is even deeper into what used to be Germany than at the height of the Commonwealth?
But of course the Germans have no legitimate cause for complaint, because they are… well, bad.
The Soviets are responsible for modern Polish borders. That being said, they look pretty much like what they did 1000 years ago. The Germans have no right to complain because they lost the war and never paid war reparations to Poland.
The Germans paid plenty in reparations to the Polacks – Pomerania, Silesia, East Prussia, Danzig, Breslau, Konigsberg, Stettin, rich coal deposits, iron ore, silver, zinc, Baltic ports. All virtually 100% German since at least the 12/13th century. If they want hard cash as well they can get their thieving Polack arses off that territory. Reparations – who do they think they are, Jews??? Only the Chosen Folk get reparations. Stalin never intended the Polacks to grab as much as they did – most of Pomerania and Silesia were supposed to be part of the GDR.
“All virtually 100% German since at least the 12/13th century. And how do the Poles justify this to themselves today? The Eternal guilt of NAZI Germany lands on the children?
How do you say national suicide in German?
nationaler Selbstmord
1) Angela Merkel
or
2) Die Gruenen
1939 ( genocide on Slavs)
or
2021 ( getting rid of Merkel)
If the true reason for Germany denying NS2 certification was that they were scared that Russia could blackmail them by diverting exports to China, that could have been resolved by negotiating a long term contract. Long term contracts can be backed up by heavy fines, something the EU likes to do.
China imports heavy machinery from Germany. It’s not a given that China would be eager to strangle Germany’s industrial sector by depriving it of energy. This is another reason why I do not understand/believe Germany’s explanation. As far as a backup, contingency plan, both the U.S. and Qatar are eager to increase LNG exports just in case Russia did something lunatic.
LNG is expensive, and you have to build infrastructure. Certainly not for this Winter.
The self proclaimed alternative to the scheming Russia, the US, is rushing to the rescue of the shaken EU population in their hour of need? No, they are providing their LNG to Asia, who will pay more. The EU is impossibly pathetic.
Why Gazprom should acceed to this blackmail is beyond me….
Were I Gazprom, I’d accept a bailout by the Russian government and “sell” all my EU destination pipelines to the new Russian SOE. Then the New Russian SOE can declare the need to “shutdown” the pipelines for
“maintenance”.
While that is going on…. The new Russian SOE, can declare force majure, and up transit fees 1000%.
The new Russian SOE, as a state entity can declare itself not under the jurisdiction of non-Russian courts, Arbitration Schemes, or Regulations…. in accordance with Russian Law.
When the EU leaders complain, as they most certainly will, Lavrov can politely mention that Russia does not see an energy crisis in the EU, because they have more than sufficient energy to send ships and Planes to the Russian border, to foment color revolutions in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Belarus, and to conduct military operations in the Arctic, threatening the Northern Sea Route.
Meanwhile, send the energy products to Asia, and convert the NG into fertilizers, and plastics, and liquids.
INDY
INDY
When you have a Clown 🤡 🤡 🤡 Show like the EU involved, this is what you get, Freezing in the dark. What a joke these people are. 😂 😂 😂.
It is Highly Likely that Putin has control of EU Stupidity. He can turn it on or off at will. It is all part of the Russian weapons program. We all know ‘those Russians’ can control minds and coerce others.
Bad Putin.
Bad Russians.
More Sanctions, please.
Putin is betting on Germans going cold this winter, which translates into a color revolution. The color big daddy of them all. Right in the heart of the EU.
Bye-bye EU solidarity.
There is nothing less than a putch in Germany. Very small number of people organized from abroad is terrorizing large majority for foreign interests. Germans will freeze now so they can pay larger price for energy in the comming years. To the same people who are behind sabotage.
Germans are not some iliterate tribe to willingly obey such scenario. NS2 had its ups and downs since beginning. This is hopefully the last obstacle. With every sabotage, Atlanticists lost part of credibility, and yet, project went on.
German politicians do not want to scrape NS2, they just want to take ever-increasing bribes from Anglos for “just one more” time.
But with every iteration, risk of open rebellion is increasing. With grave consequences for Atlanticists. It won’t be just peasant uprising. Peasants will just freeze. German industrials are the one who will pay the price. And ALL Germans are notoriously enraged when someone try to rip them off.
No amount of MSM brainwashing can oppose such unlikely alliance. There will be backlash, and it won’t be pretty.
“Germans are not some iliterate tribe to willingly obey such scenario.”
If the past 75 years are any indication, Germans are a highly literate tribe and will willingly obey such a scenario.
Just watch them turn all their outrage against Russia. After all, TINA rules: the only thing the Germans hear from their media and their politicians (with the possible exception of Die Linke and the radical right, and of course the dozen or so remaining Trotskyites) is anti-Russian propaganda, and Germans in the main are notoriously obedient people.
“If the past 75 years are any indication, Germans are a highly literate tribe and will willingly obey such a scenario.”
In the past 75 years Germans were darlings of the west, allowed to thrive into industrial powerhouse. Unlike many sanctioned and sabotaged countries. They just had to be docile and hardworking. For that service they are given decent standard of living. Why wouldn’t obey?
Now, when once victorious Anglos lost their way, and indulge into decadence, the honeymoon is over. Germans are expected to endure austerity as all other vasals and slaves do for years. So their indebted Masters can continue megalomanic rush to World dominance.
Soon enough, those who were born after WW2 will have opportunity to vitness true nature of Germans. Do not fool yourself into thinking that German Sheppard can be turned into lapdog in just couple of generations. Besides, Anglos plans are glaringly obvious. They want to repeat strategy from the last century. To push Germans into war with Russia. When they destroy eachother, to march in and take over.
There is a problem, though. Two, to be precise. Russia and China are not those from first half of 20th century. Then Germany had almost nothing to gain by turning East. Today, it is much better option than to stay in unagreable enviroment (example: Volksvagen situation).
Germans are known to turn tables in one night.
Great reflection. However, just as China and Russia are no longer the same thing as the first half of the 20th century, Germany is not either. The German people seem to have changed their nature and social configuration. The German school, education and university also philosophically alienate the German people. Only the future will tell.
I think Germans may need to focus on Mutti’s (and previous leaders) imported 5th column before they really fight back. The 5th column was imported to thwart just such an effort all over Western Europe. With falling birthrates of the indigenous and rising birthrates from the guests, it’s going to be somewhat of a challenge.
You’re forgetting the one constant in the German national psyche: obedience to authority.
@corvo
Can’t say that has prevented certain German industrialists from defying the will of their government and seeking greater cooperation with Russia. Unless that’s a completely different thing from what you pose.
What collective West has been doing for last 50 – 60 years does look and feel evil, as it is evil. However, suicidal trends are not result of stupidity – people are born with ingrained intelligence, some more, some less… So, there must be some people in the west who are capable of thinking. However, if intelligence is never used for thinking, We get something called atrophy of mind.
When I was in high school, 1970-75, we heard stories from people who worked in Germany about easy schools. High school was mix of cooking classes, tennis and arts, while we had to learn geometry, calculus, biology, chemistry and what not. Those who went to school in 1970-75, in the west, later became teachers, doctors, engineers – pillars of society, in spite of knowing nothing about anything. they did not do any manual work or trades – that was for guest workers – Turks, Yugoslavians and such. Now high school generations 1970-75 have retired. A generation that knew nothing, nurtured another generation who knew even less. That today’s reality. Uneducated mass of spoiled people, used to good living just because where they were they were.
Average worker, German or Brit always had more comfortable life than, say, Eastern Europeans, Russia and DDR included. They demand to continue that standard of living from their governments. Those governments are composed of equally illiterate people, with even greater sense of entitlement than their respective plebeians. The only way to provide such that level of standard only if lesser nations is exploitation of other countries. First they stole labour force and brain power from ‘developing countries’ (lured by prospect of more comfortable life) on all levels, from trades to post university. Then they did it in good old imperial ways – they stole physical goods and resources. Or bombed them into not competitive state. Then buying their land for fake money. Meanwhile, westerners stayed as illiterate as always. Supply of high skilled labour is now dwindling – development countries have eroded their ability to produce high skilled labour. It is still better than westerners’, anything is greater than zero, but not good enough to perpetuate.
Thus, we have massive illiteracy in the west. perhaps they do honestly believe in crap emitted by MSM and politicians. There is thin layer at the top, ignorant 100%, and huge layer of equally ignorant mass below. On the bottom are people who can think and invested time and resources in preparing themselves for the future and whatever it brings.
The critical mass of ignorance has been reached. Mass of capable people is far from positively critical. Its’ ability to perpetuate skills and education is lower and lower. They are disappearing. This is like pre-medieval Dark Ages. It will go down into nothingness, from where something different might grow, if we are lucky, and it will take a few centuries, or more to ‘something’ to raise from ashes.
They are ignorant, when not straight evil, and there is so many of them that they will pull all of us down. Unless somebody does something like revolution. The problem is, educated people in their 60-70 year of age do not make good revolutionaries. Good revolutionaries are ready to die for the cause, or at least are unlucky and don’t hide in time.
None of us is ready for a revolution. It takes young university students, organized workers, country side to feed them and support the wounded. None of that happens without a political force behind it (Communist Party anyone/).
All in all, we are screwed :-(
If they day comes when Russia blacktops Germany…Poland….and pederast England…well, it would be time to enjoy a six-pack!!!
Well written text by the great Pepe. This scenario seems to be the reasonable one. This text gives us a good tonality and nuances. Russia seems to be at a crossroads, and doing tests that will help in its choice, between germany and asia. All roads seem to lead to the third world war. European Community is Germany, Brussels is Germany. Europe is driven by progesterone. Women have always been the magic and poetry of humanity. Now in the West they are becoming second class men, and especially men from Germany are becoming second class women. Meanwhile, China bans effeminates on television.
She arrives from Germany and her treachery is perfidy. The Germans love merkel. Germany is now matriarchal and LGBTQIA. Russia has to think that it is time to look at its future, because the West has already implanted the fifth column in Russia, which is actually the sixth column, which is LGBTQIA and American Protestants. This LGBTQIA and American Protestant business is the sixth column that needs to be dismantled in the Russian Federation. It was this sixth column that helped Navalny and gave Lukashenko a toothache in the revolt of Protestant Christian Evangelical Feminists in Belarus.
Gold reserves rising is another indication that war is coming. Both the UK and the US dramatically increased their gold reserves 2 years before World War II. If history repeats itself, we must consider that World War III will start in 2023-24 or perhaps sooner… Be informed, be prepared. Putin has lived in germany for years, and he likes germany. But perhaps Putin should leave his passion for Germany behind, in the past, and look intently at Asia. Has he never heard of survival of the fittest? Basic law in nature. Every normal human being will look for himself first; then to your family, relatives, neighbors, village, country… and if there is something left for someone from a distant country.
Rude? No, this is how nature is organized. It has always been like this and it will be like that in the future.
Has all this been agreed upon? – Notice to the EU by Proxy. Road map:
1. First, Lukashenko must make a statement to scare the Eurocrats as some sort of uncontrollable dictator.
2. Next, Putin warns Belarus of major consequences if it cuts off gas for the EU, in order to strengthen Russia’s position vis-à-vis Eurocrats by sending the intended message:
– Don’t mess with our EU gas projects!
The result is the economic effect and, hopefully, the Euroc-Rat effect.
This theater could become more severe if Lukashenko takes some minimal action, which will only cause minimal change in gas deliveries to the EU. So that they understand the Russian position via proxy. Lukashenko has his charm, he’s rock solid, and he knows how to handle money. He is a perfectionist and very practical and knows how to be controlling. He has a sharp mind despite having contrasting emotions. He is very detailed, but manages to be affectionate, romantic, sociable and even generous. Of course, he can be cruel, tough and extremely pragmatic.
– So we have the duo: Good cop, bad cop.
700 billion is a lot of money, it would put Russia in a position unreachable by the West. What is really at stake? This article by Pepe Escobar is read across Europe and America. Has Germany become irresponsible romantic and feminine enough not to hit your next step? We have to place bets. Even if he’s sick, Merkel will still be backstage. Merkel has always been about the five eyes continuing to dominate the sixth eye. She was selected by the empire and replaced her master Helmut Kohl, the father of German reunification. Merkel’s father was a Protestant minister working in eastern Germany, and the empire loves merkel, and American democrats love merkel. The answer seems to be unique: Germany will not be able to stop being the sixth eye, it will continue to be Saxon and even Anglo. The cold war will get colder, or maybe too hot!!!
700 bn is nothing in the scheme of things.
Those in Asia don’t have to offer what Russia really wants.
What would Russia want that Asia can’t offer ?
The technical knowledge on some things. And some equipment.
@Santiago
Russia collaborates in greater level with China and Asia regarding technology than we can imagine. How do you think the Chinese were able to produce hypersonic gliders?
They were probably slipped it by the CIA or MIC under the counter as they usually do.
To justify another $trillion in US arms spending. Have to keep up with the competition.
Its a racket.
Gold reserves rising is another indication that war is coming. Both the UK and the US dramatically increased their gold reserves 2 years before World War II.
Very interesting, even if it’s partly true. Could you please provide a source for this, in any language ?
By 2 years before WW2, do you count from 1939 or from 1941 ?
Thanks in advance.
This is nothing new. The harassment of NS2 began several years (as far back as 2017). US sanctions slowed down the building of the pipeline, which provided time for lobbying/ bullying the EU commission into introducing their own amendments to the EU gas directive, (such as ownership unbundling) in which NS2 is now mired.
It’s now perfectly clear why Biden was so “generous” in waiving US sanctions on NS2 ahead of his summit with Putin in Geneva last June. He knew full well that NS2 would be dealt with by the EU commission.
The NS2 company was busy fighting off legislation that was being introduced against it, even as the pipeline was being built. Perhaps it is now time to treat NS2 as a sunk cost, and stop investing more time and capital into this project.
51% of the Nordstream AG belongs to Gazprom, so roughly half of these financial losses will be Russian.
As for Germany, I agree this will have a devastating effect on the economy. it is all part of the empire’s “scorched earth” strategy, destroying everything as it withdraws…
I dont know all the details of this or the playoffs going on but I would suspect the US wants the Russian gas to EU to not happen so it can get gas thru from its pals the Middle East. Agree ?
Isnt there gas supplies from North Sea available ? And why not make it like they use to in the old days in gasometers from German brown coal ?
Russia is the EU’s top energy supplier and cannot be easily replaced.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/infographs/energy/bloc-2c.html#carouselControls?lang=en
This is why Russia agreed to NS2 in the first place, but I guess the Russians didn’t anticipate the level of self-harm the Eurocrats are capable of.
The good news is that the Christmas Covid lockdowns, which have already been announced in several European countries, will reduce economic activity and this will help save energy (and help Europe through this winter’s energy crisis).
Practicality. There is no pipeline from Quatar or Iran, … European gas supplies exist but they are shrinking. Coal gasification is very expensive, and you don’t build that kind of infrastructure overnight. It would take years, even under an emergency scenario.
Gas can be shipped by LNG ship tankers.
From Middle East or elsewhere. But the qty would limited.
Sweden, Norway, Germany could build a fleet of them.
Not that I want to harm Russia’s sales but tankers could even collect it from Russian ports then no pipeline is necessary. There are many was to skin a cat.
@Santiago
Wrong. Europe can’t get the amount of gas they get through pipelines from a fleet of ships. Besides, ships can’t be built within one month. It’s basic knowledge 😄
Nor can the regasification facilities, AFAIK.
@Serbian girl
“Perhaps it is now time to treat NS2 as a sunk cost, and stop investing more time and capital into this project.”
Russia profits from selling gas 100% and from transport 51%. Minus maintenance, etc.
They can sell their share in transportation or even give it up for free, they still can profit from increased prices of gas. Present exorbitant price of gas from other sources is tax (punishment) for delaying NS2.
Both Gazprom and its western partners are well compensated for delay. Very soon they will reap extraprofit from artistically increased price that pays off investment into pipeline.
My understanding is that the outsized profits are made in the spot market, which Gazprom refuses to participate in, but only in mutually negotiated long term deals. Too bad, though, because it would be poetic justice for Russia to recoup national losses due to hypocritical EU sanctions by taking advantage of EU panic gas prices.
“What is also clear is that if by a misguided political decision Nord Stream 2 gas is eventually blocked, the fines to be collected by Gazprom from the European consortium that begged for the construction of the pipeline may exceed 200 billion euros. The consortium is made up of Engie, Shell, Uniper, Wintershall Dea and OMV.”
I can’t imagine how that “European consortium” could ever be forced to condescend to pay a fine to a Russian entity, contracts and laws notwithstanding.
Not sure what Pepe meant by “fines to be collected by Gazprom”. Gazprom is part of the NS2 consortium.
If anything, they will have to eat the losses along with the other members, and BE fined:
A Polish anti monopoly is fining the NS2 for approx. EUR 7 billion.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/poland-slaps-e6-45-billion-fine-on-gazprom-over-nord-stream-2-pipeline/
The NS2 debacle is going to be very expensive…
Yes indeed. And add to that the fact that each day Russia comes one step closer to having all of its assets in the “free world” confiscated — through no fault of her own, of course.
russian assets in foreign countries are about 500 billions, foreign assets in Russia are about 500 billions…
if they confiscate the first ones in a move against Russia… what do you think will happen to the second ones?
@Corvo – OK but what is to stop Russia retaliating by confiscating EU assets in Russia?
Germany needs this pipeline and I think they will get it in due course. Isn’t this a lot drama and grandstanding so as to be able to say to the Poles and the others “we did our best but there you go… ” A few months delay are not a problem for Russia. Higher prices mean you need to sell less to make the same money.
Oh, I think that retaliation would be justified and likely. Then the Americans impose their notorious “secondary sanctions,” which will become irrelevant only once countries stop trading in dollars.
Gazprom has a delivery contract which has penalties if the owners (FIVE corporations not Gazprom) do not start the gas flowing on time and at the contracted flow rate. Thus, Gazprom makes money if the gas flows or if the gas does not flow. Gazprom built the NS-2 but is not the owner. They operate the system but are not the owners.
Gazprom is the best run, smartest corporation in the world. It’s front man is VVP. Unpaid pitchman.
Who will pay the penalties? NordStream AG in Switzerland ? Because as far as I could see the five owners of Nordstream Ag in Switzerland include Gazprom.
Please correct me if I have this wrong:
The five owners/ shareholders of Nordstream AG are
1. Gazprom Int’l project LLC (a subsidiary of Gazprom and majority shareholder)
2. Wintershall
3. PEG E.On
4. NV Nederlandse gas unie
5. Engie
https://www.nord-stream.com/about-us/
I’ve just seen that Pepe listed five different companies as owners of Nordstream:
“Engie, Shell, Uniper, Wintershall Dea and OMV”
This is very confusing…
I am sorry, it is Nordstream 2 AG, not Nordstream AG.
NS2 AG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gazprom.
https://www.nord-stream2.com/company/shareholder-and-financial-investors/
The five companies listed in this article provided financial backing to NS2 AG, 100% owned by Gazprom.
They could be involved in some sort stock-for-debt exchange, in case of some sort of default/penalty but they are not part of the consortium.
This is where international trade is a farce and there is no free market despite these global entities like the World Trade Organization. Then there’s the carbon tax racket piled on top of this.
On one hand you have the EU attacking Russia in the Black Sea by various backdoor methods yet wanting gas by this pipeline.
Then we have this nonsense that there is a climate crisis and “global warming” justifying a war on carbon and Great Reset etc… . If there such a situation the EU shouldnt be burning any fossil fuels – where is there nuclear powered electricity heating homes and wind power ?
I suppose the evil EU leaders want people to die from the cold if their wicked vaccines don’t get them first ?
And a cold period also risk the Middles Ages type plague resurfacing. Is this the game plan ?
EU leaders are a joke with all the antics that go on as well as still being the worst swine they always have been. And UK ones almost as bad.
I think you just summed it up well. Perfect storm.
At least part of France is in the Mediterranean.
Can zip down to the Rivieria at Nice for a sun bake.
I wonder what De Gaulle would be doing if he were here now ?
He’d have Macron arrested for sure and get the guillotine out.
Fortunately Italy, Spain Greece etc are not in this equation and the leaders are more reasonable.
Italy & Greece have gone full Nazi on locking down the unvax’d. Spain is not averse to such measures. France is an interesting one because there’s an election in April so the jury is out. I think it’s inevitable for the UK too. All eyes will be on Vienna tomorrow to see if the police/army side with the people as reported. These lockdowns are purely political in nature IMO.
I havent been following Italy and Greece lately so i wasnt aware of it. The polticians will pay.
At some point in all of this the police and army will turn on the political leaders and their backers.
I said this months ago. Its a mathematical certainty as their own families are being effected by these swine.
Army commanders should draw up plans right now to arrest the ring leaders and all the pharma company operatives.
And I now see this evil Merkel is on the same roll as Austria announced today. It appears she has parkinsons disease, as did Hitler when he was mad between 1943-45 doing stupid things. Sick people should not be allowed to make decisions and the German Army should stage a coup asap.
SEE https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/11/germany-merkel-limit-large-parts-public-life-unvaccinated-people/
Timid gets abused. It is unfortunate that Russia let’s itself be abused. Russia needs to sell its gas and commodities in Rubles. The EU will immediately come to senses as it will need to earn rubles first, increasing Russia’s power! The EU buys LNG from the Empire in the US$ and gas from Russia in Euros? Why? Russians need to stop blaming others and act with conscience, courage and confidence. When will the bear roar?
The currency in which an entity prices and sells its resources, is its master. Nations need to treasure their sovereignty. This statement, “an offer by a reputable Western energy firm of $700 billion for Russia to divert their oil and gas exports to China and other Asian customers, away from the EU,” shows lack of financial acumen. The Dollar Empire will be happy to buy all Russian gas in the US$, and pay it with newly created money out of thin air. Russia will be committing an economic suicide. High class prostitutes get paid well and are rich, but no integrity & class. The common sense is not that common.
“Germany has zero margin of maneuver to dictate conditions to Gazprom and Russia.” Germany/EU rules over Russia by buying gas in euros. Gazprom/Russia need to negotiate hard and demand payments in rubles to incorporate their German venture, checkmate the Empire. If Germany wants the corporation to be incorporated in Germany then similarly Russia need to demand payments in rubles. This way Russia will create a demand for rubles and strengthen its power and leverage. Why is Russia’s sovereign wealth investing in euros (35% in Empire’s private money)? What % of Russia’s investments are in private money (50+%)? Russia doesn’t value monetary sovereignty? Let’s see if Russia got creativity & courage?
“Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
Excellent argument: “The EU buys LNG from the Empire in the US$ and gas from Russia in Euros?” Of course, this is also subservienec. Doesn’t the Russian government know this?
Removed. As per the saker – please stop commenting at the site. Everyone, please ignore the troll. Mod.
Please do not try to convince me my electricity bills have not increased.
”there are so many dishonest articles portraying the west as disintegrating and the east rising high,
so beware”
The number of suchlike articles is minuscule, if they exist at all. What we do have is an avalanche of agit-prop spreading the message of Western invincibility, fearlessness, and resolve. Sadly, that looks particularly unconvincing now as we have entered a decade of ever more resounding setbacks and defeats for Western imperialism. Taiwan will be reunited with China, and it’s dubious whether the US will even remain as a State organism by 2030. The You’re_a_peon Union will be trashed forever. Given the current line-up of political leaderships in the world, the West’s hegemony is over — deal with it.
What exactly is this $700B ‘deal’ he keeps talking about? From whom, for what?
I asked the same question to fellow barflies at Moon of Alabama and got one reply so far: Trafigura, which is Swiss. I also asked Pepe at his VK Space if he’d share that tidbit, but no reply yet. Power of Siberia 2 is a few years away from becoming operational, and I’ve read of no other pipeline projects being initiated. There was a very important meeting today at Russia’s MFA where Putin delivered a critical policy speech, the Russian transcript is here, while the English is only 1/4 done. The energy issue was mentioned but wasn’t elaborated upon, although other issues related to energy were. Putin did confirm one major point made the Saker’s made consistently over the years–Russia needs peace.
It’s funny how the Germans are behaving like they are exporting gas to Russia and not the other way around. It’s like watching
a greek tragedy. In my opinion the Russkies should speak in very simple terms with the Germans and say something like this, listen up we’ve built you a pipeline we have the gas that you need, and if you still insist on monkeying around,and playing games that’s fine with us, but if you wanna do some serious business, here’s our number. And then Russia should just leave it there and provide the hungering Asian markets with gas until stupidity starts to inflict some serious damage on the German export oriented industry.
I agree. The Germans are acting like they have the high ground.
It is Russia that has the high ground.
How come Germany throws its weight around?
Is this for show?
Is this young, hubristic recently elected officials?
Or old sclerotic ones?
Pepe is right to mention the Green party and its extreme Russophobia as well as their “visceral” hatred of Nord Stream 2. Remember that Robert Habeck, the Green party leader, caused a scandal earlier this year in May, when he was pictured on the “frontline” in Ukraine at Schyrokyne near Mariupol. He was pictured wearing some borrowed Ukrainian army uniform with a steel helmet, near the Russian border. Quite shocking for a German MP unwittingly posing like that and resurrecting the sordid past and the Nazis Operation Barbarossa. ( photo here https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/bartsch-ukraine-101.html )
Even more terrifying perhaps is the thought that Habeck has been spoken of as a possible new Foreign Minister amidst the wheelings and dealings going on right now in the Traffic light coalition talks. They have just appeased the FDP regarding Covid and are paving a way for Germany’s very own unique cross between the UKs Jacob Rees Mogg and Kevin Costner, namely the FDP playboy leader Christian Lindner. Who gets what ministry in the SPD, FDP and Greens future coalition government is still up for grabs. If Habeck succeeds for German foreign policy it means very worrying times are ahead.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/05/29/ukra-m29.html
(German Green Party leader Habeck wants to arm Ukraine against Russia)
So much for the ordinary citizens of Europe ! Your neoliberal government working well to keep you warm this winter!
They reap what they sow voting for governments controlled by neocons and neoliberals, who have taken sovereignty away from their general populations!
As if those elections had any legitimacy in them and weren’t just smoke and mirrors.
My experience clearly tells me that the EU populations are completely clueless about what is taking place. They are completely brainwashed. I believe the propaganda is so strong that even in the initial stages of unrest and hardship, they will still blame Russia and believe their media and governments, until the real stages of unrest and economic collapse will take over. That’s when the house of cards will collapse on the EU populations.
It is an inevitable and necessary process that has to take place in my opinion.
Marx said something like this: when the objective conditions for revolution take place, it will happen.
A few years ago, Bulgaria caved in to US pressure and cancelled South Stream which was in an advanced stage of preparation. Russia shrugged its shoulders and built Turk Stream instead. Bulgaria was left high and dry, no cheap and reliable source of energy, and no 400 million euros a year in transit fees. In due course Bulgaria went crawling back to Russia, begging for South Stream to be resurrected. Putin told the Bulgarians to go f**k themselves. He should do the same with Merkel and the Germans, rather than just accepting all the endless double dealing and backstabbing from Merkel and Brussels. Theres no point wasting time on this nonsense of transferring the Swiss company to Germany. If this was a genuine problem rather than more endless time wasting, it could have been raised any time over the past few years rather than waiting till the last minute when the pipeline has finally been completed after so much obstruction and so many unnecessary delays. Setting up a new company would just be followed by a series of further hoops for Russia to jump through. Russia just has to accept that Germany and Brussels are not serious and reliable energy partners – like Bulgaria, and act accordingly. Germany has made its bed now it can lie on it.
Totally agree — Pull the plug rather than get jerked around for sweet FA !
Ditto.
Russia has other options to sell their gas.
Take toys and leave playground.
Don’t wait for the new government to play games with whether they “let” NS2 go forward or not and how long they will take to make up their sweet minds..
Isn’t this getting into the “agreement incapable” territory?
Snatch away this option (of waiting for the princess bride’s “answer”) right now and ignore all calls for mercy until they really scream uncle.
Seems to me like EU and Germany need a lesson in who occupies the high ground.
excellent points………..to a great Pepe Escobar article
So “Cold” War II is definitely afoot although I suspect it may get quite heated in the streets of Germany this winter.
As for Polish politicians – one simply can’t educate pork
Nice and frightening article by Pepe, for which my very thanks and my role in distributing further.
From here I may suggest that extrapolating events with clueless Germans wondering in awe what is happening, may not be compeletely the to be expected future, though for some it might be.
That the Greens are just ‘bankers bitches’ might not be so surprising for more Germans than you think. Do we really expect large industrial companies to sit idly by, mumbling something like ‘it definitely is a pity, but hey, that’s democracy’?
The Greens (besides ‘project Baerbock’) are a littlebit too naive for this kind of game, despite their ‘handlers’.
It is already widely known, thet the Greens definitely wanted, really really wanted, exactly one ministerial department. They have made a real parade about it behind the doors.
Gee, which department would be so wanted for a ‘green’ party?
It was/is the Finance department.
That the greens may think that they will get it, is incredibly naive, if not to say arrogant, and more than probable both (a toxic mix, unfortunately often seen). Gee, who would have thought that something like that ‘leaks’ to the outside world? How could that happen?
Add to that, suddenly a discussion is rising forcefully, why we should decommission our nuclear power plants as planned. They deliver energy, right? Without CO2 emissions, right? Well, keep them open and we’re right on track.
Gee, who could have started such hidious ideas?
Immediately the greens were jumping: energy available, saving money, not being in the cold, industry running and less CO2 emissions, hey, *that* was not supposed to happen?!?
You see, those clowns are not up yet for this league, it’s open for anyone here to watch this in amusement.
So it’s a mess but no, we’re not dead yet ;-)
Greetings from Germany and cheers, Rob
Do we really expect large industrial companies to sit idly by, mumbling something like ‘it definitely is a pity, but hey, that’s democracy’? Exactly. And when this happen, we will see a sea of changes.
Considering that Germany has been buying and receiving Russian natural gas since the early 1970’s, thanks to Chancellor Willy Brandt, and without non of the idiotic, western inspired political games, my question is this…. who in Germany with influence over NS 2 is on the payroll of the CIA and the US State Department?
But it is not that the Anglo-Zionist Empire want to freeze the Germans. It is that the Germans want it! It is in their hands to not let the AZE win and not sit in a fetal position, shedding crocodile tears over their ‘victim’ status.
I meant to say that the cutoff of gas in any country, Germany being the prime example, would cripple the manufacturing sector by depriving them of the energy to make products people want, aside from killing industrial workers from the cold and thinning down the workforce. If my understanding is correct, fewer people in the workforce may lead to a slowdown in production, which may hinder competitiveness. Allegations (hat tip to ‘A. Dane’) have surfaced here and elsewhere that the USA’s intent is to prevent that same competitiveness. Top that with Germany’s trade with China (hat tip to Christian J. Chuba above) with whom the US is at odds.
Possible minutiae aside, if Germany gave NS2 the green light in defiance against the wishes of the AZE, absent any politicians who are under the payroll thereof, wouldn’t they risk getting sanctioned by the USA and UK?
The only way for Russia to deal with this geopolitical insanity in the EU is to issue an irrevocable ultimatum: “Regarding Nord Stream 2, you have 30 days to get your ‘stuff’ together, or we will consummate the offer from China”.
The awful truth is that the opponents of Russian Energy are weak. One should not be ashamed to admit this as it is both a subjective and an objective reality. Ultimatums to a weak opponent are therefore unsound and unnecessary and cannot be considered a “way.” In the terminology of chess, Russian Energy has a winning end game position and one where the opponent has not checkmating pieces remaining on his side to boot. In other words, one can smoke a pipe in such a game and even look out the window….
F*** the EU. Thats probably the only thing Nuland has ever said that everybody would agree with.
Is it that they grudge Russian success so much they would rather freeze their people and bury their future? Adults don’t usually do this sort of thing.
Is the Regulator playing the role of psychopath?