In Geopolitics Today - Monday, April 11th
The EU Adopts Fifth Round of Sanctions Against Russia, China Sends Y-20 Fleet to Deliver Weapons to Serbia, US Offers India Alternative Sources of Oil
The EU Adopts Fifth Round of Sanctions Against Russia
The European Union has adopted a new set of sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The European Council agreed on the sanctions and put into force a series of measures intended to reinforce pressure on the governments and economies of both Russia and Belarus. Russia supplies an estimated 45 percent of Europe’s thermal coal, and these coal imports into the EU are worth an estimated 8 billion per year. The EU is now scrambling to find a replacement supplier, with Indonesia and Australia likely to be approached by EU member states in the future.
The agreed package includes a prohibition to purchase, import or transfer Russian coal into the EU from August 2022. EU ports are now also obliged to deny access to vessels registered under the flag of Russia, with vessels carrying agricultural products, humanitarian aid and energy exempt from the ban. In addition, a ban on any Russian and Belarusian vehicles transporting goods by road within the EU is now in effect, with exemptions granted for pharmaceutical, medical, and agricultural products. Other sanctioned sectors include bans on the export of computers and advanced semiconductors, high-end electronics, software, sensitive machinery and transportation equipment to Russia, as well as a set of import controls on wood, cement, fertilisers, seafood and liquor. This fifth round of sanctions also seeks to strengthen existing measures and close loopholes, and has targeted companies whose products or technology have ties to key Russian corporate and state actors.
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China Sends Y-20 Fleet to Deliver Weapons to Serbia
China made a delivery of weapons and other military supplies to Serbia over the weekend that involved six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes. Reports have speculated that the military airlift revolved around delivering either HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems to the Serbian military, though the exact cargo of the six Chinese military transport planes has not yet been disclosed. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said he is preparing to present “the newest pride” of the Serbian military sometime this week.
The appearance of the Y-20 in such numbers in Europe is sure to raise eyebrows in some NATO-member state capitals, as the presence of so many Chinese military aircraft here is rare. The apparent arms delivery to Serbia saw the Y-20s fly over the territories of at least two NATO member states, Bulgaria and Turkey, and is a testament to China’s growing airlift capabilities. These cargo planes are a relatively new addition to the inventory of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force inventory, having entered into operational service sometime in 2016. Since then, China has ramped up its production of Y-20 aircraft while utilizing the estimated two dozen Y-20s which are in active service for conducting both military and civilian transport missions.
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US Offers India Alternative Sources of Oil
Leaders from the United States and India have discussed ways India could help the US and its allies apply more economic pressure on Russia. US officials have held a number of meetings with their Indian counterparts in recent weeks to dissuade India from increasing the country’s imports of Russian oil. These efforts have not yet yielded any success, however, and US officials have approached India delicately by not yet publicly urging the country to pick a side.
US President Joe Biden reportedly held a “constructive” and “direct” conversation with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both world leaders met ahead of an India-US 2+2 dialogue taking place in Washington this week, where India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are expected to hold discussions with their US counterparts Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony J Blinken. India appears to be an increasingly important partner in Washington’s ambitions to contain China’s growing power in the Pacific. While the 2+2 dialogue is expected to focus on China, Washington may use the dialogue as an opportunity to incentivize New Delhi to limit India’s purchases of Russian oil.
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