After Europe cut itself off from Russian gas, Moscow is replacing the EU market with China & Iran.
Why this shift could transform global energy markets? 🧵
Before the war, Russia exported 200 bcm/year of gas to Europe.
Half of that went through Nord Stream 1 & 2 — around 110 bcm/year combined capacity.
With the sabotage and sanctions, Europe is off the map for Gazprom.
So where is that gas going now?
China
🔸The new Power of Siberia-2 pipeline will ship 50 bcm/year of gas to China.
🔸Together with the operating Power of Siberia-1 and other contracts, Russia will send 100 bcm/year to China by the 2030s.
That’s about half of what Europe used to buy.
Why this matters for China:
🔸Locked in via a 30-year framework
🔸Diversifies LNG from the US, Qatar & Australia
🔸China gets cheaper, predictable pipeline gas; Russia gets a stable buyer.
Iran
🔸In 2023, Moscow & Tehran signed a deal for 110 bcm/year of Russian gas transfers through Iran.
🔸That’s equal to the combined Nord Stream capacity.
Iran will function as a regional hub — moving Russian gas to neighbors and global markets.
The Iran arrangement has broader implications:
🔸Positions Iran as an energy corridor for Eurasia
🔸Provides Russia with new distribution channels beyond Europe
🔸Asia and the Middle East rely heavily on spot LNG, but a Russia–Iran pipeline hub could offer cheaper, long-term supply and reduce dependence on volatile cargo markets.
It’s both infrastructure and strategy.
On top of that, Gazprom signed a $40 billion MOU to help Iran develop its massive (and largely untapped) gas reserves.
Iran has the world’s second largest reserves.
If this scales, the Iran-Russia energy axis could shake the entire LNG market.
The Big Picture:
🔸China: 100 bcm/year locked in
🔸Iran: 110 bcm/year transfer deal
🔸That’s ~210 bcm/year — effectively replacing the entire European market.
Moscow no longer needs Nord Stream.
Global impact:
🔸Reduced European leverage over Russian exports
🔸Greater role for Asia & the Middle East in global energy flows
🔸LNG market faces pressure as pipeline alternatives expand
🔸Russia’s stable energy supply strengthens Asian and Middle Eastern economies, shifting the global economic balance from the West to the Global South.
Europe cut itself off from Russian gas.
But Russia simply moved East.
With China & Iran, Moscow is building an energy alliance that could redefine the global balance of power — pipeline by pipeline.
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🚨🇮🇱Israel's Global Spy Network: Meet the Countries Helping Mossad
Let's dissect the myth of Israeli intelligence supremacy. The recent assassinations operations in Iran and Lebanon weren't solo triumphs but exposes a regime dependent on external backing.
Here's how🧵
🇸🇦🇦🇪Saudi Arabia & UAE:
Provide critical financial channels, political cover, and share vital intelligence on Iranian proxy movements through joint command centers.
🇪🇬🇯🇴Egypt & Jordan:
Offer territorial access for surveillance and coordinate border security, creating a perimeter that directly benefits Israeli intelligence operations.
🚨🇨🇳🇺🇸The Unwinnable Trade War? Why China's economic fortress is stronger than ever
The US just launched its most aggressive trade salvo yet with new tariffs. But this time, China isn't flinching, 2018 playbook is obsolete.
Here’s why the dynamics have shifted against the US🧵
Factor 1: A Radically Different Global Macro Backdrop.
In 2018, China faced a perfect storm: aggressive Fed rate hikes and a domestic deleveraging campaign. This hurt global demand & Chinese exports.
Today? The mirror image. Central banks are easing, and major economies are deploying fiscal stimulus. Resilient Chinese exports now reflect resistant global consumption (especially in the US), not weak external demand. The tide is lifting all boats, China's included.
Factor 2: Structural Gains in Export Competitiveness.
This is the silent game-changer. Over the past 7 years, a prolonged domestic deflationary environment acted as a pressure cooker for Chinese manufacturers.
They've climbed the value chain, becoming more efficient and innovative. The result is a price-performance advantage that is extraordinarily difficult for competitors to replicate, even with subsidies. They are simply leaner and more competitive.
🚨🇷🇺🇺🇦Russia's Energy War 2.0: A Strategic Shift from Shock to Siege
Russia's campaign against Ukrainian energy is no longer about spectacle. It has evolved into a methodical, multi-year strategy to weaponize winter & fracture society.
Here's how👇🧵
Phase 1 (2022-23): The Blunt Instrument.
Objective: Demonstrate capability & test resilience.
🔸Mass, indiscriminate strikes on large generation assets.
🔸Result: Severe but manageable via emergency measures (rolling blackouts, load maneuvering). The system, while wounded, proved adaptable.
Phase 2 (2024): From Disruption to Degradation.
A strategic pivot triggered by Kiev's escalation (e.g., Kursk incursion). The goal shifted:
🔸Old: Temporary disruption.
🔸New: Create a permanent energy deficit.
🔸Outcome: Rolling blackouts became the grim norm, exhausting rapid recovery capacity.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇱🇵🇸Why Trump's Gaza Ceasefire is Doomed to Fail
The spectacle of world leaders gathering for a "peace plan" signing in Sharm El-Sheikh, is a significant political optic.
But the most telling detail was who wasn't in the room: neither Israel nor Hamas attended. 👇🧵
This wasn't a peace signing. It was a "wedding without a bride or groom."
You can't forge an agreement between two warring parties when they refuse to even show up. This highlights a fundamental lack of buy-in from the primary actors in the conflict.
Why was Netanyahu absent?
A key reason: most attendees had recently recognized Palestinian statehood. Bibi, whose government explicitly rejects a Palestinian state, wanted no photos suggesting endorsement. This reveals an unbridgeable chasm between Israel's aims and the international consensus.
🚨🇺🇦🇷🇺Ukraine Plunged Into Darkness: Massive Retaliatory Strikes Cripple Energy Network
Russia launches massive, coordinated attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. This is a response to recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory.
Here's a breakdown🧵
📍Kiev: Capital in total darkness
🔸30+ explosions reported in the capital by Geran drones.
🔸2 thermal power plants hit.
🔸Left bank district without power & water.
🔸Metro & train services disrupted.
Strikes are reported to be ongoing.
📍Krivoy Rog:
About 30 explosions reported in the city. Widespread power outages are being experienced by residents.
As gold smashes through $4,000/oz, a specific group of nations is leading a historic shift away from traditional reserves like the dollar.
These are the 10 countries ramping up now🧵
🇷🇺 Russia
Russia is the textbook example of a nation rushing to ramp up its gold reserves. It added a massive ~450 tonnes in just the first half of 2025, a 43.8% increase from H1 2024. This aggressive buying spree has brought its total reserves to 2,329.63 tonnes (as of Q2 2025), valued at over $217 billion.
🇺🇸 United States
The US is not actively buying new gold; its strategy is one of holding. It maintains the world's largest reserve at 8,134 tonnes (261.5 million ounces). While it isn't "rushing to ramp up," the surge in the gold price to $4,000/oz has pushed the market value of its existing reserves to a historic $1+ trillion.