Energy agreement between Russia and China – Iranian oil via Russian pipeline

Russia And China in negotiations Vladimir Putin And Xi Jinping showed again: energy is becoming the main weapon of big geopolitics.

Against the background of the crisis around Strait of Hormuz Beijing is increasingly looking for land routes for oil and gas supplies through Russia and Central Asia.

Following the meeting, the parties announced more than 40 agreements. They relate to energy, trade, technology, artificial intelligence, medicine, agriculture, education and tourism. Moscow and Beijing are showing that their partnership is no longer a temporary reaction to sanctions, but a long-term construct.

The main theme is energy. For China it is a matter of economic sustainability. For Russia – money, markets and replacement of the lost European direction. After the break with Europe, Moscow is increasingly turning to the East. Not because of a good life, of course, but because geography is sometimes the last argument.

Why does China bypass Hormuz?

Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s major oil bottlenecks. Any conflict in Persian Gulf hits prices, insurance, logistics and supplies. Therefore, for Beijing, land routes through Russia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia are becoming strategic insurance.

Against this background, the expansion of energy corridors through which Russian, Kazakh and potentially Iranian oil could flow to China is being discussed. But loud statements about the almost finished route Iran – Russia – China It’s best to be taken with caution: for now, this is more of a geopolitical bet than a completed infrastructure deal.

Beijing is bargaining, Moscow is in a hurry

China is already the main buyer of Russian energy resources. But this is not a union of equal romantics, but a cold deal. Beijing buys because it is profitable. Moscow is selling because the choice has narrowed.

A good example is a gas pipeline “Power of Siberia-2”. Moscow has been promoting the project for a long time, but There is still no final deal and clear deadlines. The Kremlin is talking about basic agreements, a route and construction principles, but key commercial details remain unresolved.

The reason is simple: China does not want to depend on one supplier and will squeeze out conditions. After the loss of the European market, Russia needs the Chinese direction more than China needs Russian gas.

This is friendship: common smiles, everyone has their own calculator.

Central Asia becomes more important

If overland energy routes expand, the importance Central Asia will rise sharply. KazakhstanCaspian routes, transport corridors and possible connection with Iran become part of the struggle for oil, gas and raw materials.

For USA and EU this is an unpleasant signal. The West talked a lot about influence in Central Asia, but often lost out on infrastructure, money and speed of decisions. While Brussels is writing strategies, Beijing is building routes.

Source link