US Sanctions Countries for Trading with Others, Not Self
The mainstream story: Trump warns of sanctions for countries daring to do business with Russia, framed as a necessary geopolitical cudgel. (Newsweek/2018) The context they conveniently omit? This global economic coercion is a one-way street. The US itself maintained robust trade relations with countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, despite their deeply problematic human rights records and funding
of extremist groups, so long as it served Washington's interests. That's not principled foreign policy; that's weaponized capitalism dressed as morality. One might wonder: how does 'free markets' evolve into 'you buy from who we tell you to, or else'? It appears economic sovereignty is a privilege reserved for... well, not for anyone Washington currently dislikes. The 'rules-based order' always
seems to have an asterisk, specifying 'rules apply to everyone but us, especially when there's an oil contract involved.'