Written by Michael Thervil
Photo credit: ALROSA
On the most recent of sanctions placed on Russia from the Collective West this time led by the European Union (EU), Alrosa the Russian mega diamonds exporters have been the target of the latest round of sanctions. The reason for the latest round of sanctions: the execution of Russian Special Military Occupation in Ukraine. The Collective West embarked on this weak attempt to cripple Russia because it wants to desperately stop its diamond mining sector from “providing substantial revenue to the [Russian] government” according to the EU.
Photo credit: AFP
But many are wondering if actions like these will be enough to derail or stop the Siberian Express (Russia) from continuing its Special Military Operation in Ukraine. Many doubt it. Many suspect that by the EU slapping sanctions on Alrosa, it will most likely end up wreaking havoc not only on the world’s diamond market, but the blowback of these newly applied sanctions will ultimately end up affecting other global markets as well. If you don’t know diamonds have uses that far exceed their most thought of use for engagement rings and other forms of jewelry pieces. The uses of diamonds are vast as they are used for industrial grinding, sawing, glass cutting, machine bearings, polishing, cutting, and of course drilling and drill bits.
Photo credit: ALROSA
This means everything from lasers, dentistry tools, vacuum chambers, high end speakers, computers, x-ray machines, can/will be affected by the recent round of sanctions introduced by the EU and enforced by the Collective West. The reason for the heavy industrial use of diamonds lies in its hardness. With a hardness of “10” on the Mohs Hardness Scale, the use of diamonds in the industrial sector is almost limitless. However, because of the sanctions, it is heavily speculated that the price of diamonds from both a consumer and industrial base will inevitably rise.
Photo credit: ALROSA
The sanctions on Russian diamonds are starting this month (January 2024) which includes both natural and synthetic diamonds that are mined from Russia indiscriminately. Moreover, these new sanctions will also adversely affect Russian diamonds that are exported and cut in other countries. Russia pulls in roughly $4-5 billion a year from its diamond exports. Good luck to the EU and the Collective West on weaponizing the use of sanctions on Russia – lord knows the previous 11 rounds had very little effect on Russia.
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