The US Dollar Can No Longer Threaten China and Russia

In 2022, the US kicked Russia out of the SWIFT system, causing significant losses for Russian businesses and ordinary citizens. Even Switzerland’s traditionally neutral banks joined this looting. The monopoly over the financial system and global currency once gave the U.S. and EU such capability, but at the 2024 BRICS summit, Western countries permanently lost this advantage.

The US Dollar Can No Longer Threaten China and Russia

Previously:

Russia outlines proposal for BRICS DLT cross border payment system

Russia outlines proposal for BRICS DLT cross border payment system

A new research paper out of Russia proposes the future of the international monetary and financial system. The country is the current chair of BRICS which is meeting next week. One of its proposals is a CBDC and DLT system to support local currency payments. While the paper makes some interesting points, the mixture of fact and propaganda undermines the document’s gravitas. The document was authored by the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Russia and Yakov and Partners.

Russia outlines proposal for BRICS DLT cross border payment system

Venezuela: 5 Strategic Reasons for Nicolás Maduro’s Presidential Candidacy

During his second term as the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro has achieved fundamental milestones to overcome the crises generated by the far-right opposition and the United States. These achievements have led the country towards political, economic, and social stability. They have strengthened his leadership within Chavismo and have positioned him as the natural candidate to represent the Bolivarian Revolution in the presidential election scheduled for July 28 this year.

Venezuela: 5 Strategic Reasons for Nicolás Maduro’s Presidential Candidacy

The End of American “Exceptionalism”?

The End of American “Exceptionalism”?

This might have a decisive impact on the US currency as the drive to break with the petrodollar continues to grow and could produce something like a “perfect storm” impacting on the US economy. It threatens to drastically lower the standards of living of nearly all Americans within the next several years as the dollar loses value and purchasing power. As the US economy is heavily interconnected with many European economies, Europe is also likely to be a victim of the coming disaster.

The good news, of course, is that the United States will no longer be able to afford its endless wars and international interventions. Lacking its economic power, it will no longer be able to declare itself “exceptional” and the enforcer of a “rules based international order.” It would mean an ending of the funding of developments like the Ukraine proxy war and the troops will have to come home from places like Syria and Somalia. And it might even mark the ending of sending billions of dollars annually to a wealthy Israel.

Ending dollar supremacy would inevitably have an immediate impact on what passes for US foreign policy, making it more difficult for Washington to initiate and sustain Treasury Department sanctions on countries like Iran and North Korea. It could also create economic turmoil for many countries until the situation resolves itself by producing greater volatility in currency markets worldwide. The Federal Reserve Bank will no doubt respond to the unfolding crisis by acting as it always does by raising interest rates to astronomical levels, thereby hurting most the Americans who can least afford the shock therapy.

Feet on the Ground in St. Petersburg: The Public Mood

by Gilbert Doctorow

One of the first questions put to me by a reader via the Comments function with respect to Monday’s report of my initial impressions after arriving in St Petersburg was: and what is the general mood of people? I begged off answering, saying that I would have to speak to a lot more people before I could confidently answer that question.

Feet on the Ground in St. Petersburg: The Public Mood

Sanctions don’t seem to be effecting the wealthy or the middle class, in Russia, much.