• MrMakabar@slrpnk.net
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    4 days ago

    The EU is capable of resisting Trump pretty well. However many countries are not. That is honesty the real problem here.

    • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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      4 days ago

      Short term, the countries that can’t say no, will say yes. However, they will seek alternative markets for purchase and sale. It damages the relationship for short term gain, all paid by the business and American consumer.

      • futatorius@lemm.ee
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        2 days ago

        If it’s in their national interests, they’ll cheat. Why comply in good faith when you’re being coerced?

      • aasatru@kbin.earth
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        4 days ago

        Fuck Trump and the horse he rode in on (Musk), but he is doing wonders for UK/EU relations.

        • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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          3 days ago

          Lol, he’s part of the cabal that pushed for Brexit. One step forward in reaction to two steps back is not to his credit.

          • aasatru@kbin.earth
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            3 days ago

            Obviously nothing is to their credit. But the talk about tariffs is forcing the UK to look towards Europe more than they maybe would have, and a majority of Brexit voters are now in favour of joining the EU’s internal market.

            It was just a tongue in cheek way of saying that the US’ only ally in the world is going to be the soaring Russian economy - even the Brits, who forcefully tied themself to the Mayflower mast, are now looking back to Europe.

            In good personal news, a good friend of mine in the UK has landed a really good job in the UK working on the tariffs. I’m very happy for her. Silver linings. :)

            • futatorius@lemm.ee
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              2 days ago

              The chart linked to the “soaring Russian economy” link shows the Ruble exchange rate, which says very little about the state of the overall Russian economy, except foreign exchange. And that exchange-rate chart shows the value of the Ruble doing down the shitter.

              So I’m guessing you were being sarcastic.

              • aasatru@kbin.earth
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                2 days ago

                Yes, I was being sarcastic. A strong currency is generally associated with a strong economy. The Russians managed to keep the ruble strong the first year of the war, somewhat stable in the second. The last three months have been rather turbulent.

                It of course affects the Russian man in the street directly, foreign goods (whatever is still imported) get more expensive. It could be beneficial for exports, but it seems their energy business is not going so great either.

                So yeah, I was indeed being sarcastic. As long as they have energy to export they will have some income, but it has been a long time since the Russian economy looked worse.

                That’s my analysis though. According to a coughing, cold sweating Putin, all is going just great.

                Whether it’s me or Putin who are correct on this one, a weak ruble to the dollar means Russians will struggle to afford imported goods from the US. So they are not going to be a very profitable trade partner any time soon.

      • MrMakabar@slrpnk.net
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        3 days ago

        and long term the higher oil and gas consumption is going to damage the climate even worse…

  • humanspiral
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    3 days ago

    von der Leyen’s sycophancy is the most worrying part of the article, even as individual EU countries, German minister quote, suggests resistance.

    EU already signed significant O&G long term contracts after Ukraine war. Even as they are reducing NG and coal electricity by 10% this year, and on path for another 10% every next year, longer term supply lock ins is certain to slow that progress in addition to promoting more global/US development.