An enterprising journalist from Bolivia [Twitter Link] mapped the countries that support the sanctions against Russia (yellow) versus the countries that are not participating in the western sanctions against Russia (grey). The image provides a visual reference to consider our previous discussions about the cleaving of the global economy between two overarching ideologies.

In my estimation this intentional global cleaving, using the opportunity created by the Ukraine crisis, is going to be the major story of this year. This global splitting can be looked at in multiple ways, but the overarching story is the ramifications of two global trade relationships.
The western alliance (in the yellow above), has forced the world to reevaluate the dollar as the global trade currency, by denying Russia and their trade partners the ability to use the financial mechanisms under western control. To work around the sanctions, Russia is working on new financial systems to sell oil and farm products in non-dollar currencies. There is also a possibility the petro-dollar, for the global trade of oil, might be dropped.
Russia is part of OPEC. While many countries develop their own resources, OPEC sells the majority of oil the rest of the world consumes as the basis for their economic engine. One way to look at the global cleaving is to look at the way energy is viewed.
Once again, Joe Biden, the same authoritarian who mandated that every American worker undergo a medical procedure in order to qualify as a person who might earn a living, sits atop his high-horse and pretends that western government leaders have some inherent claim to the protection of democracy.
According to the anonymous Newsweek sources – intelligence officials who fear speaking publicly for fear of severe repercussions – it would be very easy for Vladimir Putin to level the key cities and industries in Ukraine, but he’s not doing it.
The EU has few options as they are reliant upon Russia for energy products oil and gas. If Putin organizes payment in rubles, his currency will automatically increase. This sets the stage for other less hostile countries like the BRICS alliance to assist Putin ideologically and financially by transacting in rubles through the Russian central bank.
There’s a word to describe when a single national leader takes control over all media platforms and