[Goose]

Another question for you.  What is up with South Africa?  Have they decided to to become part of the Russian orbit?  Seems like they risk a lot economically if Europe and USA apply sanctions, but maybe their "help" doesn't amount to much.

It is partly that ANC always received at least "moral support" from Russia, so there is a link there. Russia is also operating actively in Africa and therefore is a force to be at least considered there. Mostly, IMO it is that political stability is South Africa isn't real good and they are looking for anybody who will help the existing government without asking for transparency and reform. Russia will do that, the "west" won't.

Secondly, is there any way to apply additional real economic pressure to Russia?  There are so many holes in the system, maybe the answer is No.

As long as there are nations that don't mind the optics of buying Russian oil, probably not much. We can and should do whatever is possible to eliminate the tanker fleet that services that trade. Lots of money laundering going on. If we confiscate some ships as well as cargoes that will at least run the transportation costs up, which will help. As WW I showed, sanctions often take longer to work than anticipated, and the mechanism is often not the originally intended one.

[Goose]

Another question for you.  What is up with South Africa?  Have they decided to to become part of the Russian orbit?  Seems like they risk a lot economically if Europe and USA apply sanctions, but maybe their "help" doesn't amount to much.

It is partly that ANC always received at least "moral support" from Russia, so there is a link there. Russia is also operating actively in Africa and therefore is a force to be at least considered there. Mostly, IMO it is that political stability is South Africa isn't real good and they are looking for anybody who will help the existing government without asking for transparency and reform. Russia will do that, the "west" won't.

Secondly, is there any way to apply additional real economic pressure to Russia?  There are so many holes in the system, maybe the answer is No.

As long as there are nations that don't mind the optics of buying Russian oil, probably not much. We can and should do whatever is possible to eliminate the tanker fleet that services that trade. Lots of money laundering going on. If we confiscate some ships as well as cargoes that will at least run the transportation costs up, which will help. As WW I showed, sanctions often take longer to work than anticipated, and the mechanism is often not the originally intended one.