تحولات جيوسياسية: أوروبا تقلل الاعتماد على الصين والسعودية تعزز الدبلوماسية

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiX0FVX3lxTE9MWXd1MXdGcmh2NmQzUUtSdXh0ZkIxZE9rSkZvVjNUR2V6Yk9CZldJemx6aEk1VkhOa19pbGxHZDFCQlNVcHM0N3J6QWJoSjMwdWIxd0g2UG9mTnBrZWlr?oc=5" target="_blank">Saudi FM receives Beninese counterpart in Riyadh</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Arab News</font>

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video link call on Wednesday, wherein Putin hailed Russia's energy relationship with China as "strategic" while emphasizing that Beijing has become Moscow's top buyer of oil and gas since the Ukraine 'special military operation' began. The timing is the most notable aspect, given the call came just two days after Trump announced he would cut tariffs on Indian goods in exchange for New Delhi halting purchases of Russian crude. Trump also said Washington could lift an additional 25% penalty tariff imposed over India's energy cooperation with Moscow. The curious thing is the lack of confirmation of the oil purchase cutoff from the Indian side. As yet, there's no clear indicator that this key element in the Modi-Trump deal has been ratified. On Wednesday, FT reports India hails Donald Trump ‘deal’ but ducks discussing Russian oil ban. The reality remains that there are also technical problems with US crude imports replacing Russian... "WTI is simply too light to be considered as Urals replacement" for refiners in India following this week’s announcement of a US-India deal on tariffs, June Goh, an analyst at Sparta Commodities said in a note. And this is likely why Putin seized the opportunity to tout his energy ties with China. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has also reminded the world in a statement to TASS that Russia tops the list in terms of oil and pipe gas supplies to China. "China continues to hold the first place among our foreign trade partners. Russia is fifth among the countries - trade counterparties of China. The task was set during the talk to take efforts for further development of trade and economic ties, in particular, for example, in the energy sphere. Russia is the top supplier of oil and pipe gas to China," Ushakov said. Kremlin estimates say China has purchased more than $230 billion worth of Russian energy since the invasion. Putin himself, in the call, acknowledged that bilateral trade saw a "slight decline" last year, including a "correction in indicators," but insisted Russia remains "among the leaders in energy supplies to China." He vowed that the two would continue to closely coordinate together on a range of issues. As for the India trade, Reuters reported earlier that Indian refiners have yet to receive instructions to fully stop buying Russian oil and are awaiting a formal government decision. Any official halt would be followed by a transition period, no doubt. Trump's earlier statements may have been too far out front compared to what Modi actually agreed or said yes to. Hours after Xi and Putin spoke, President Trump also held a call with the Russian leader on Wednesday. They last spoke by ‍phone in late November, at which time a conciliatory Trump praised America's "extremely strong" relations with China. Xinhua News Agency first revealed the Trump-Xi call, but no further details have been forthcoming. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com

The European Union’s biggest economies – Germany, France, and Italy – will lead the bloc’s efforts to build stockpiles of critical minerals to reduce dependence on China, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Wednesday. Germany will be responsible for overseeing the sourcing of the critical minerals, France will take charge of helping secure financing for the EU’s purchases, and Italy will oversee the storage of the key metals and minerals, sources who attended a meeting with EU officials in December told Reuters. These sources were not in the know if Germany has already approached producers or who they might be, or which banks could be involved in financing purchases. In early December, the European Commission adopted the so-called RESourceEU Action Plan to accelerate and enhance efforts to secure the EU’s supply of critical raw materials, including rare earth elements, cobalt or lithium. The initiative provides financing and concrete tools to protect industry from geopolitical and price shocks, promote projects on critical raw materials in Europe and beyond, and partner with like-minded countries to diversify supply chains, the Commission said two months ago. Work began at the end of last year with Member States on a coordinated EU approach to stockpiling critical raw materials. A pilot scheme is expected to become operational early this year. The Commission also pledged to set up a European Critical Raw Materials Centre, which, among other things, will act as a “portfolio manager for diversified and resilient supply chains, including through joint purchasing and stockpiling.” Moreover, the Commission vowed to introduce, in early 2026, restrictions on the export of scraps and waste of permanent magnets to boost Europe’s recycling capacity. Similar actions will be considered for copper scrap if this proves necessary. The EU is also considering buying direct stakes in critical minerals projects in Australia as a way to secure supply, Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, said in November. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com