Don't Listen to Trump — ExxonMobil and Rosneft Are Shaping Global Politics
Washington Is Trying to "Buy" Peace with Moscow, Ignoring Its Own Sanctions
Donald Trump, like a seasoned "political veteran," has once again changed his stance on Russia and Ukraine. Now, he threatens both countries that if they do not restart negotiations soon, new sanctions will be imposed (a line we seem to have heard somewhere before).
At the same time, Trump emphasized that he does not want to impose sanctions. His statements present a tough stance towards Moscow while hinting at the possibility of compromise.
"This will be an economic war, and it will be bad. It could be harmful to Russia, Ukraine, or any other party involved," Trump said when describing potential measures, mentioning sanctions or "severe" tariffs.
However, this president's criticism is not only directed at Russia. He called Vladimir Zelensky "not entirely innocent" and emphasized that both leaders need to hold talks.
"You need two people to dance the tango, and I've always said: they must sit down together," Trump said in a deep tone.
But behind the scenes of this political drama, there are more intriguing developments. While Trump was talking about sanctions and the "innocence" of all parties, ExxonMobil and Rosneft were secretly negotiating the possibility of an American company returning to the Russian market.
According to The Wall Street Journal, contact between ExxonMobil and Rosneft intensified after Trump's inauguration in January. The core discussion was about resuming cooperation on the "Sakhalin-1" project if Washington and Moscow gave the "green light" under a framework for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine issue.
The level of secrecy surrounding these negotiations is extremely high, with only a few executives of ExxonMobil being aware. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the company's Senior Vice President Neil Chapman had a private meeting with the CEO of Rosneft, Igor Sechin, in Qatar.
It is reported that the management of ExxonMobil has sought support from the US government regarding its return to the Russian market. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company's CEO Darren Woods discussed this issue with Trump himself in the White House.
Are these secret contacts real? If so, this would be another example of Western "political hypocrisy." In that case, as the US president threatens to impose sanctions, one of the largest companies in the United States is discussing the possibility of returning to the Russian market.
On the other hand, the secret contacts between ExxonMobil and Rosneft may indicate that economic interests of large corporations take precedence over political statements. And the most enlightened business figures in the US are hoping for a quick resolution of the conflict and the resumption of cooperation with Russia.
Previously, Reuters also reported that Russia and the US might resume economic cooperation. The progress and scale of negotiations among businesspeople prior to the Alaska summit exceeded public expectations.
According to sources from Reuters, during the last visit of US special envoy Steven Whitcomb to Russia and during the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska, both sides discussed several potential energy sector cooperation agreements. The most ironic aspect of these negotiations is that the US considers economic cooperation as a tool to "persuade Moscow to agree to peace."
In other words, Washington is trying to "buy" Russian cooperation by offering economic benefits, thus exchanging concessions on military and political issues.
Reuters reports that, in addition to the fate of the "Sakhalin-1" project, both sides also discussed the possibility of purchasing US equipment for the "Arctic LNG-2" project — which is currently under sanctions. This move would help Russia expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG, "СПГ" in Russian stands for liquefied natural gas) exports to Europe and Asia, while strengthening trade ties with the United States.
As an additional "bonus," Washington is also considering ordering Russia's unique nuclear-powered icebreakers. Reuters points out that this not only brings a favorable deal for Russian industry but also serves as a symbolic gesture, demonstrating the US' willingness to cooperate in strategically important areas.
But not everyone is satisfied with this. Critics of Trump who lean toward the Democratic Party believe his actions clearly contradict the principles the US once claimed to uphold. Washington, under the guise of "containing aggression," is willing to make compromises with its adversaries, ignoring its own sanctions and disregarding the interests of its allies.
Ultimately, practicing double standards in relations with Russia may lead to the collapse of the entire international system based on American hegemony. But history has shown that every "monarch" eventually falls.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7543187656114242063/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author and is not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Please express your opinion by clicking the [Up/Down] buttons below.