I think that part of it depends on how you view money and the paths it takes around the world. From a US perspective, Russia shouldn't be able to do much right now because of all the 'sanctions' we've put on them. They do still manage to move oil and gas to Iran, among other places and the PRC appears to be enabling some movement of the …
I think that part of it depends on how you view money and the paths it takes around the world. From a US perspective, Russia shouldn't be able to do much right now because of all the 'sanctions' we've put on them. They do still manage to move oil and gas to Iran, among other places and the PRC appears to be enabling some movement of the cash that results from that movement. The flailing comes about when the need arises for current technology, most of which is western although a fair amount is made in the PRC and clearly manages to find its way to both Russia and Iran so that they can produce the drones and missiles needed to keep the wars going. Both Putin and the Ayatollah would cheerfully see their people starve rather than give up any power because neither has much life expectancy once they're out of office.
I think that part of it depends on how you view money and the paths it takes around the world. From a US perspective, Russia shouldn't be able to do much right now because of all the 'sanctions' we've put on them. They do still manage to move oil and gas to Iran, among other places and the PRC appears to be enabling some movement of the cash that results from that movement. The flailing comes about when the need arises for current technology, most of which is western although a fair amount is made in the PRC and clearly manages to find its way to both Russia and Iran so that they can produce the drones and missiles needed to keep the wars going. Both Putin and the Ayatollah would cheerfully see their people starve rather than give up any power because neither has much life expectancy once they're out of office.