RUSI Europe’s Post

Credit to Dimitri Zabelin Jul 19, 2024 How sanctions and security-first policies hamper global cooperation https://lnkd.in/gYigjFKg * Sanctions and export controls are becoming the primary tools for policymakers in a security-first paradigm. * Despite their prevalence, these measures often result in inflationary pressures and have limited historical effectiveness. * Addressing global challenges such as the energy transition and artificial intelligence governance requires unprecedented international cooperation. Geopolitical multipolarity is, in many ways, the democratization or decentralization of hegemony. Security, sanctions and inflation Embedded in a security-first paradigm are a set of policy tools that are inflationary by nature. These tools primarily include sanctions, secondary sanctions and export controls. Reluctant cooperation Balancing legitimate national security concerns on a national basis cannot be disregarded, though a more flexible framework may be needed to achieve global objectives. https://flip.it/DV-Pya

🌍 Unraveling the Essence of Sanctions: A Strategic Discourse 🚀 In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, sanctions emerge as a pivotal instrument, offering a nuanced alternative to the blunt force of military intervention. Here's why they matter: 🛡️ Deterrence: Sanctions wield a preemptive influence, dissuading nations from undesirable actions by signaling clear consequences for non-compliance. This proactive stance fosters stability and upholds international norms. 🔒 Prevention: Acting as a bulwark against potential threats, sanctions serve as a preventive buffer, curbing the escalation of conflicts and preserving global security interests. ⚖️ Punishment: In instances of transgression, sanctions provide a means of retribution, underscoring accountability and reaffirming the principles of justice on the global stage. Furthermore, sanctions exhibit a tailored approach, catering to the nuances of each scenario: 🌐 Geographic vs. Thematic: Geographic sanctions hone in on specific regions or countries, as evidenced by measures against entities like North Korea or Crimea. Meanwhile, thematic sanctions address overarching issues, transcending geopolitical boundaries. 🤝 EU's Adaptive Strategy: The European Union (EU) exemplifies adaptability by integrating both geographic and thematic dimensions into its sanction framework. This strategic evolution underscores the EU's commitment to championing human rights and tackling pressing global concerns. In essence, sanctions epitomize a diplomatic middle ground, offering a calibrated response that balances coercion with dialogue. Through targeted measures, nations can effectively influence behaviors and advance collective objectives, fostering a more cohesive and secure global community. #Sanctions #Diplomacy #GlobalAffairs #Geopolitics #EU #Security

KAZAN, October 23. /TASS/. The leaders of the BRICS member countries supported a comprehensive reform of the United Nations (UN), including its Security Council, to make it more democratic, representative and effective, according to the Kazan Declaration adopted following the BRICS Summit. The document contains 134 points covering 43 pages. The key topics include further development of the association, position on various global issues, sanctions, settlement of regional crises, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. https://lnkd.in/gX3jtyZT

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) has recently published a study on the evolution of financial sanctions since 2023. Without any surprise, 2023 has again seen an increase of financial sanctions, mainly for the US to advance their foreign policy objectives. Russia remains top of the list, by far, reflecting the constant willingness to address sanctions evasion risks, including the possibility to impose secondary sanctions on non-US FIs supporting Russia in such evasion attempts. Interestingly, Chinese -linked designations are also becoming more frequent, a trend to closely follow-up. The full report is available here: https://lnkd.in/eH3Sc2u5 #FCC #financialcrimecompliance #sanctions #financialsanctions

Multilateral collaboration is essential to addressing key global challenges.    The partnership between the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OSFI) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) demonstrates the need to take coordinated action in tackling shared threats to national security.    Alongside our allies, Treasury is committed to designing and implementing effective sanctions that uphold our collective priorities. https://lnkd.in/eqSEXumP

📣 Strengthening Global Sanctions: Two Years of Enhanced U.S.-UK Partnership On November 19, 2024, OFSI marked the second anniversary of its Enhanced Partnership with OFAC, reaffirming their commitment to global security through effective sanctions. 📝 In Washington, DC, both agencies discussed critical issues, including sanctions enforcement on Russia and the Middle East, with a focus on multilateral coordination. A key outcome was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance information sharing. 💡 They also emphasized the importance of private sector collaboration, the second year of their secondee program, and modernization efforts to stay ahead of challenges in the sanctions landscape. Original source 👉: https://lnkd.in/gi3M2pCT #USsanctions #sanctionsupdate #OFSI #OFAC #SanctionsPartnership #RussiaSanctions #MiddleEastSanctions #SanctionsCompliance #MOU

Being Targeted ≠ Being Sanctioned: The Rule of “Strategic Importance” In the complex web of global economic sanctions, being targeted or discovered doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be sanctioned right away. It’s not because the U.S. is lenient, but because there’s a well-calculated “importance” rule behind every decision. Simply put, how important you are determines whether you’ll be sanctioned. Sanctions aren’t just a mechanical legal process; they’re more like a chess piece kept in the pocket, only to be played when the timing is right and political benefits are maximized. Take the recent U.S. sanctions on Iran, for example. A few days ago, after Iran launched missile strikes on Israel, the U.S. swiftly expanded its sanctions on Iranian-related entities and individuals. This quick response doesn’t mean the U.S. suddenly discovered these violations—in fact, the U.S. had already known about these connections but was waiting for the right moment. Iran’s attack gave the U.S. a perfect excuse, triggering the sanctions—what seems like an immediate reaction is actually a well-timed political move aimed not just at “punishing” Iran but also maximizing U.S. influence.

Our latest EPC commentary takes a more strategic perspective on sanctions in the EU's economic statecraft. With Philipp Lausberg and Raúl Villegas!

This is a continuing maritime security or marsec update from Sanborn Analytics. On June 13th, 2024, The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List on GOV.UK, detailing individuals and entities designated under the Sanctions Act. Forty-two entries have been added to the Russian financial sanctions regime and are now subject to asset freezes and trust services sanctions. Further details are available in the notice. Additionally, the following entities have been added to the Central African Republic financial sanctions regime and are now subject to an asset freeze: - Diamville (Group ID: 16505) - Wood International Group Sarlu (Group ID: 16512) Moreover, one entry in the Myanmar financial sanctions regime has been corrected on the consolidated list and remains subject to an asset freeze. For more information, please refer to the relevant notices on the respective regime pages. OFSI’s consolidated list of asset freeze targets has been updated to reflect these changes. For details on the Russian sanctions, please take a look at the attached PDF. In addition, all those on this list should also be deemed sanctioned by the United States as well (see link). #maritimesecurity #unitedkingdom #russia #ukrainerussiawar #nationalsecurity #homelandsecurity https://lnkd.in/epTzF-ZA

Join us tomorrow on how to implement sanctions against Russia. We will delve into context, geopolitical implications and impact of sanctions against Russia so far and explore strategies for banks in navigating sanctions! https://lnkd.in/dVqFM4AP