Russia: Putin's hidden strategy to drive apart US and UK
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week. During this meeting, it is expected that Mr Khan will offer the Kremlin a lucrative contract to build a new pipeline, carrying gas through Pakistan. First proposed in 2015, the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline (PSGP) – formerly known as the North-South gas pipeline would not carry gas from Russia to Pakistan, as they do not share a border.
Rather, this pipeline would carry gas between various cities in the country.
Initially, it was planned that the Russian side would own a controlling stake, assume 85 percent of the costs, and operate the gas pipeline for 25 years.
However, in the revised version of the deal, Pakistan’s share will increase to 74 percent, while Russia’s will drop to 26 percent.
Islamabad plans to borrow the loan from Russian banks to cater to the needs of Russia’s spending in the project, which will be used to purchase pipelines and compressors.
At 1,040km (646 miles) long, the project has been provisionally contracted by the Pakistani Government to be built by Russia.
The project was estimated to cost about $2.5billion (£2.1billion).
This deal would be a major snub to Biden and the US, who is a key ally of Pakistan.
As part of the War on Terrorism, Pakistan served as a major non-NATO and was a leading recipient of US aid.
Between 2002 and 2013, the country received $26billion (£19billion) in economic and military aid and sales of military equipment.
Since the US withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the relationship between the two countries has been less secure, with Pakistan being accused of bankrolling the Taliban.
Nevertheless, Pakistan remains on the list the US has designated Major Non-Nato Ally (MNNA).
Meanwhile, Mr Putin, who has been facing conflict with the US, NATO and EU, is now seeking alliances to the East.
Earlier this month, Russia and China jointly called for NATO to abandon its “Cold War ideology” as tensions in Eastern Europe continue on the rise.
DON’T MISS:
Call for tougher rules as new variant may be ‘more lethal’ [SPOTLIGHT]
Putin to hit back and cut THREE key exports to West [HIGHLIGHT]
China faces crisis after ‘alarming’ children’s heart discovery [REVEAL]
Tensions in Europe have reached new heights as the European Union prepares for gas supplies to be cut by Russia as early as today.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced crisis measures for the bloc to cope with a loss of gas supplies if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to cut the flow.
These fears come as Moscow, the EU’s largest supplier of energy, squeezed the supply the gas flowing the bloc for the past few months, pushing wholesale gas prices to record highs.
Since late December, the flow of gas from the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which usually travels west from Russia to Europe, has reversed, according to data from German network operator Gascade.
Source: Read Full Article