FTMDaily.com – Just as Western sanctions designed to torpedo Russia’s geopolitical ambitions have been implemented, Russian citizens are dumping their own currency (the Ruble) in exchange for the U.S. Dollar and the Euro.
In March, as the world watched the Russian annexation of Crimea, Russian citizens were rushing to buy foreign currencies in order to lower their exposure to the weakening Russian economy. Russian foreign currency demand in March rose to levels not seen since 2009.
This double-sided pressure on Russia’s economy has greatly hampered the government’s efforts to protect the Russian currency. In the wake of Western sanctions, Russia’s GDP growth rate has fallen into negative territory, and to levels not seen since 2009.
The sanctions imposed by the West were specifically — if not, cleverly — designed to target Russia’s geopolitical ambitions, particularly in neighboring oil markets. Now, in response, Russia is reportedly “looking at ways for major state-owned exporters such as energy giants to be paid in rubles.”
According to the report:
“The idea of major exporters being paid in rubles rather than dollars has been gaining ground in recent weeks in response to sanctions imposed by the West on officials and companies over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and an uprising in Ukraine’s east.”
While such a move carries financial risks for Russia’s current international trading relationships, Russia’s Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, recently explained that the country is aware of these issues and is currently working on solutions. While speaking to reporters in Kaliningrad, Siluanov stated:
“There are certain risks, but we are preparing a mechanism, we are working on it.”
So, the Russians are “preparing a mechanism” that will allow them to dump the dollar in international trade? Of course they are. And they won’t stop until they succeed.
As I explained in the April 14 edition of the FTMDaily Briefing, “Russia Declares War on U.S. Dollar“:
“The entire global economic infrastructure is designed to run on U.S. dollars. Changing that system will be expensive and difficult. Nevertheless, the discussions on how to make the switch from the U.S. dollar are currently taking place, and plans are no doubt being hatched to eventually make the switch.”
Earlier this week, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev revealed that the government was in high-level discussions with major state-owned companies about converting their export contracts into rubles.
Russia has avoided making the switch away from dollars in the past over concerns that the move would make Russian exports less competitive.
But now, with Russian citizens dumping the Ruble and more Western sanctions looming, any measure that boosts demand for the Ruble is starting to sound like a good idea to Putin’s government.
But Putin also knows that such a move away from the dollar would provoke the wrath of the U.S. government, and very likely, the U.S. military.
This is all beginning to get very interesting.
Until tomorrow,
Jerry Robinson
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