Behind the headline is a qualifier that most will miss. “We will urge the companies affected not to follow Putin’s demand.”  The problem for the G7 political leaders is that most of the transactions are between private companies.  The heads of the U.S, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the U.K, can stake a position, but the ultimate decision around the transaction in the hands of the private company buyers.

Russia can set the terms.  Whether the G7 political leaders shout ‘breach of contract‘ is seemingly a moot point.  In the big picture, the politicians have already breached the terms of prior trade agreements with sanctions.  Russia can turn off the supply or demand payment in rubles as terms of sale.

BERLIN (AP) — The Group of Seven major economies agreed Monday to reject Moscow’s demand to pay for Russian natural gas exports in rubles.

German energy minister Robert Habeck told reporters that “all G-7 ministers agreed completely that this (would be) a one-sided and clear breach of the existing contracts” for natural gas, which is used to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry.

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Remember when Joe Biden tried to claim, because of his election, the U.S. was respected again?  Yeah, well, not so much.

Apparently, the Biden administration planned to go hat in hand to the Middle East for help with oil production.  However, Saudi Arabia and the UAE refused to even take Joe Biden’s calls.

(Wall Street Journal) […] Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the U.A.E.’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan both declined U.S. requests to speak to Mr. Biden in recent weeks, the officials said, as Saudi and Emirati officials have become more vocal in recent weeks in their criticism of American policy in the Gulf.

Earlier today White House Press Secretary Jennifer Psaki falsely claimed a United States President can do nothing about gasoline prices.  This is an oft familiar claim by the political left, it is also one of the more transparently false assertions in their arsenal of deceit.  First, WATCH:

So what can a U.S. President and administration specifically do?

We have abundant U.S. energy resources.  Quite literally the strongest in the entire world.

• Permit the use of preexisting approved leases in ANWAR (Alaska) to put more volume into the Alaskan oil pipeline that is severely underutilized.
• Finish the Dakota access pipeline.
• Re-approve the preexisting energy leases in New Mexico, Arizona, NE Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
• Retract the stoppage of the Keystone pipeline to permit efficient oil transport shipments from Canada.
• Stop blocking the expansion of coastal oil refineries in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama (regulatory issue), as well as Northwest, Northeast and Southeast Seaboard.
• Continue to develop natural gas as a clean burning fuel.
• Drive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as an export.

None of this requires any approval from OPEC.  Strategically the all of the above approach enhances U.S. national security and diminishes the influence of Russia, China and Iran.  Within six months of the above, gasoline will plummet.

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Despite the majority of American’s being happy about the U.S. energy independence created by President Trump, it is adverse to the interests of Wall Street and Big Government to lose justification for U.S. troops in the middle-east.

Remember, the vast majority of money into the bank accounts of politicians, their families and bureaucrats within the Deep State, comes from foreign governments.

From their DC perspective: all systems/processes that increase U.S. global influence are good; any policies/processes that reduce U.S. global influence are bad.

Rasmussen – “On his first day in the White House, President Joe Biden signed an executive order blocking further construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline project. Most voters disagree with Biden’s decision.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 36% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is a good idea to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline that would transport oil from Canada to the U.S. Fifty-one percent (51%) of voters say canceling the pipeline is a bad idea, and 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)”  [source]

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♦President Trump’s foreign policy approach brought North and South Korea together away from the table of conflict.  ♦President Trump’s foreign policy approach brought Serbia and Kosovo together away from the table of conflict.  ♦President Trump’s foreign policy rallied the Gulf Cooperation Council to stop Qatar’s support for Islamic extremists via the Muslim Brotherhood. ♦President Trump’s foreign policy brought Turkey and the Kurdish forces together away from war and conflict.  ♦President Trump’s foreign policy created a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in Syria.  President Trump mediated a cessation of hostilities between India & Pakistan in the Kashmir region. ♦President Trump’s foreign policy brought Israel and the UAE together… and then Bahrain… and now Sudan.

(White House) President Donald J. Trump, Sudanese Chairman of the Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today to discuss Sudan’s historic progress towards democracy and opportunities to advance peace in the region.

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[Note: The chain of allied mid-east nations normalizing ties with Israel is in-line with the same sequence of nations who President Trump previously assembled to confront Qatar extremism in June 2017.  That coalition effort is now close to achieving regional peace.]

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Good indications for continued progress toward peace in the Middle-East.  President Trump has called for a 2:00pm press conference (not previously scheduled) following an oval office meeting with Amir Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait.

This could be yet another partner announcement in the normalization of relations with Israel.  CTH predicted Kuwait would be next.  It would make sense for Kuwait, Oman and Sudan to come next in the process before the heavy -and more complex- nations (Qatar & Saudi).

Protocols and pageantry are culturally very important to the Arab nations and they have a long history of using pageantry as part of political celebration.  According to Kuwait news and the White House President Trump is awarding the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.  His son is receiving the award in a private ceremony.

This honor will be received very well by Kuwait as a recognition of their importance in the region.  It is a good diplomatic and strategic move.  The Legion of Merit was last awarded by a U.S. President in 1991.

WHITE HOUSE – Today, President Donald J. Trump is awarding the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait.

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President Trump, Vice-President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo participate in a working lunch with the Prime Minister of Israel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the UAE and the Foreign Minister of Bahrain.

“Today, nations across the region and throughout the world are joining together, united in their determination to build a better future.” – President Donald J. Trump

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SECURING HISTORIC AGREEMENTS: President Donald J. Trump hosted the official signing ceremony for the historic peace agreements between Israel and Arab nations.

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Today President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will participate in an Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony to celebrate the historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Anticipated start time 12:00pm.

President Trump helped broker a historic agreement between the UAE and Israel to normalize relations in August. Last week, Trump announced that Bahrain had also reached a deal with Israel to normalize relations. The parties will sign the agreement, dubbed the “Abraham Accords,” at this White House ceremony, marking a notable diplomatic achievement for President Trump and mid-east partners.

UPDATE: Video Added

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And absolutely stunning day for the White House, Israel, the Arab peace coalition and the larger international community as peace begins to settle across the middle-east. Incredible.

President Trump holds an oval office meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and takes questions from the press pool. [Video and Transcript Below]

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[Transcript] – PRESIDENT TRUMP: (A ceremonial gold key is presented.) This was a special token of affection, given by myself and the First Lady to the Prime Minister and the First Lady of Israel. And it’s a key — we call it a key to the White House. And it’s a key to our country and to our hearts. And you’ve been an amazing leader for a long period of time. And this is — this is, in many respects, the big day, because this is something that’s very special.

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“Peace is the prize.” – Truly a remarkable diplomatic accomplishment and very apropos considering the timing of the events.  Today the Kingdom of Bahrain and Israel formalize peace and diplomatic ties between the two nations.  Bahrain now joins with the United Arab Emirates in a larger peace initiative.  [Video of White House Announcement]

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