Σάββατο 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2015

Russia VS Qatar : The War for England

I was saying the other day about the “clouds” over the Russian-Italian relations due to the cancellation of the South Stream pipeline. The Italian giant ENI had 20% of the South Stream, and the cancellation of the project, together with the agreement for Nord Stream 2, are expected to adversely affect the Russian-Italian relations. However the Russians gave 10% of Nord Stream 2 to Shell, the English-Dutch energy company, and therefore it is expected that the Anglo-Russian relations will be strengthened.

Moreover, Roseneft, the Russian state owned giant Rosneft, which is by far Russia’s largest producer of oil, gave a 20% stake in the British giant BP. In addition Centrica, one of the largest British natural gas and electricity suppliers, which operates under the name British Gas and Scottish Gas, agreed to buy from Gazprom 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year. For relevant articles see Wall Street Journal “BP and Rosneft Sign Production, Exploration, Refining Pacts”, June 2015, Gazprom’s site ““Gazprom, BASF, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shell sign Shareholders Agreement on Nord Stream II project”, September 2015, and Independent “Gas imports from Russia's Gazprom giant to soar after new Centrica deal”, May 2015.

“BP and Rosneft Sign Production, Exploration, Refining Pacts”, June 2015

“Gazprom, BASF, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shell sign Shareholders Agreement on Nord Stream II project”, September 2015

“Gas imports from Russia's Gazprom giant to soar after new Centrica deal”, May 2015



I must say that in England and Germany the energy sector is run by the private sector, and therefore the Russians have to give the shares to private companies, contrary to what they do in Southern Europe, where they give the shares to public companies. But that does not mean that the English and the German politicians do not care about the routes and supplies of oil and gas, and about the prices of oil and gas. Besides their geopolitical importance, the oil and gas prices determine the production cost of their economies, and therefore the competitiveness of their countries. As you can read at the following Financial Times article, titled “BP shareholders need protecting from David Cameron”, April 2015, the British center-right Prime Minister David Cameron said that the English government would stop the American energy company Exxon from buying the British BP.

“BP shareholders need protecting from David Cameron”, April 2015

The Financial Times are the best British newspaper, probably the best newspaper in the world, and it is attacking the British government, since the latter does not even have “golden” shares in BP. Golden shares give governments certain rights. The reason the British do not want Exxon to buy BP is because BP will become an American company, and will have to comply to the sanctions imposed by the US government on Russia. This is not the only reason of course. I must say that in the US the energy sector is also run by the private sector. In the advanced countries the energy sector is run by the private sector.

Moreover the Russian oligarchs have placed lots of money at the City of London, which is the most advanced European capital market, and they buy tons of political influence, as you can read at the following FT, Economist and New York Times articles. Nigel Farage of UKIP is one of Putin’s great admirers.

“Osborne warns UK on financial impact of Russian sanctions”, July 2014

London’s Laundry Business”, March 2014.

 “Prospect of tough sanctionson Russians hits City realpolitik”, του Μαρτίου 2014.

Russia’s European supporters. In the Kremlin’s pocket: Who Backs Putin and Why”, February 2015

The Qataris, who are Russia’s number one competitor in the natural gas markets, have made their own moves in England. The Qataris have bought all the top properties of London, as you can read at the following Daily Mail article, titled “How London is being sold off to Qatar”, April 2015, and at the Guardian’s “How much of London is owned by Qatar’s royal family”?, December 2014.

“How London is being sold off to Qatar”, April 2015

“How much of London is owned by Qatar’s royal family”?, December 2014

At the following Bloomberg article, titled “Qatari Wealth Fund Says Ready to Boost Investments in U.K.”, February 2014, you can read that Qatar has invested huge amounts at the British bank Barclays, and it also bought  the British super market company Sainsbury and at the Harrods. The article also mentions the Qatari investment in the Credit Suisse bank.

“Qatari Wealth Fund Says Ready to Boost Investments in U.K.”, February 2014

The Qatar Investment Authority, which is owned by the Emir of Qatar, has also made huge investments at the German Hochtief, at the French energy giants Total and Areva, at France Telecom and GDF Suez, and many other European giants. See “Qatar Investment Authority”.

Of course Qatar has been also selling tons of liquefied natural gas to England, as you can read at the following Financial Times article, titled “UK warned over dependence on Qatar gas”, January 2012.

UK warned over dependence on Qatar gas”, January 2012

Therefore there is an economic war between Russian and Qatar over England, with Russia having the geographical advantage, and Qatar having the advantage that England’s major ally, the United States of America, is currently fighting a cold war with Russia. The more England cooperates with Russia, the more she hurts her alliance with the Americans. During the last decades the British have been counting on Europe to sell their products, and they have been counting on their alliance over the Atlantic Ocean with the Americans, in order to protect their borders. That’s why the English political left has been moderate and pro-American.

However all this transactions with the Russians and the Qataris have deeply affected the British political system, and the new leader of the Labor Party, Jeremy Corbyn, is a man who claims that NATO should have been dissolved in 1990, and he compares ISIS with the American soldiers. See the Telegraph article titled “Jeremy Corbyn 'to apologise over Iraq war' if he becomes leader, as he compares Isil attacks to America's actions”, August 2015.

“Jeremy Corbyn 'to apologise over Iraq war' if he becomes leader, as he compares Isil attacks to America's actions”, August 2015

Jeremy Corbyn is a typical European leftist. In the struggle between the Americans and the Russians in Ukraine they always support the Russians. But they truly love the Islamists, and surprise surprise Qatar is one of the countries which greatly promote Islamism in Europe. Jeremy Corbyn asks for more Muslim immigrants in Europe and England. These Muslim immigrants are recruited by Islamist clerics in the mosques which are built by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, who pay huge money to promote Islamism in Europe. See“Islamic State militants 'smuggled to Europe”, May 2015.

See also “Europe: Mosque Building Shifts into High Gear”
Moreover the European leftists believes that by bringing many Muslims immigrants in Europe they will become stronger, because these Muslims always end up voting for the left.

The question is whether it is possible for an alliance between Russia, Germany and England to be established. What can I say…The British desperately need the cheap Russian gas, but after WW2 they have based the security of their borders on their alliance with the US. Even Jeremy Corbyn admitted that England would be less safe outside NATO. What is for sure though, is that the British will not make things easy for the Americans.


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