G7 & OPEC+ sanctioning each other

Countries within OPEC+ such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela and Russia, increasingly become targets of OFAC and European Union sanctions; while countries in G7 would prefer OPEC+ to readily deliver cheap oil in exchange of a promise to lift such sanctions.

Information technology to process big data is sophisticated enough to clearly differentiate desirable transactions specific to petroleum, an ultimate commodity, as opposed to criminal activities of money laundering and terrorism. One size punishment does not fit all behavior.

Sanctions are too widespread, too easy to impose, too difficult to remove. Most authoritarian regimes are encouraged to escalate long term. It becomes increasingly obvious that regardless of behavior or misbehavior of dictators, sanctions will not be lifted ahead of any election.

Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Sudan welcome any new countries recently incorporated into their sanctioned club. Complex interests within United Nations will certainly guarantee that such countries will manage to nurture alternate relationships. Populations lose hope of change.

As Venezuelan presidential elections approach, candidates who recently lobbied for U.S. sanctions promise such sanctions to be lifted in case they get elected. Candidates who never approved of sanctions are more likely to earn sympathy votes. Which outcome would prevail?

A scenario of Saudi Arabia actively supporting Republicans to earn Congress majority, by sanctioning Democrat administration through inflationary production cuts, shows ease to meddle in domestic affairs of others. Escalating sanctions for the whole planet won't deliver.

Rubén Rivero

Caracas, Venezuela

Una Vuelta por Basílica La Chinita. Fotografía Douglas Rosales. 40 Grados Bajo el Sol