US Policy on Russian Gas, Iranian Sanctions, and Global Geopolitics

US Pressure on European Energy Policy

• 💡 Victoria Coates argues that the US should actively work to wean Europe off Russian energy sales, suggesting the US could supply India with gas and oil.
• ⚡ The US has achieved record oil production, capable of filling the void left by Russia.
• ⚠️ Coates criticizes the Biden administration for banning new liquefied natural gas export terminals, which she believes has enabled the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Economic Sanctions and Russian Economy

• 🎯 Coates asserts that properly applied sanctions could indeed cripple the Russian economy, contrary to current perceptions.
• 📉 She points to a past opportunity in Alaska when Russia's economy was contracting, oil revenue was tumbling, and budget deficits were high.
• 🌍 The combined economic might of the US, EU, and UK, if fully leveraged, could bring the Russian economy to heel.

US-China Relations and Russian Energy

• 🤝 The US has the option to leverage China's purchases of Russian energy as a geopolitical tool, though this is being approached incrementally.
• 🇷🇺 Coates suggests that Putin and others are aware of this potential leverage.

Sanctions on Iranian Diplomats and Trade

• 🛍️ Coates supports the idea of cutting off Iranian diplomats' access to US shopping facilities like Costco, citing it as a hypocritical practice given their sanctioned economy.
• ✈️ She notes that Iranian diplomats have been observed using private planes to transport purchased goods back to Iran.
• 🚫 The authority to cut off visas for individuals engaged in terrorism was previously sought, highlighting a low bar for such actions.
• 💡 This measure is seen as potentially motivating Iranian diplomats to advocate for more reasonable policies back home.
• 💥 Coates sarcastically suggests that destroying Iran's nuclear program and providing glow sticks as a consolation prize would be a fitting reminder of US actions.