While We Were Distracted

While we were distracted by yet another Trump win (no I am not tired of winning yet), Putin also is wasting little time advancing his agenda. The defection of Turkey to Russian interests is the beginning of the end of NATO.

David DeGerolamo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Russia And Turkey Reach Deal On “Southern Stream” Gas Pipeline, Infuriate Washington

One and a half years after Russia and Turkey signed a deal to build the strategic “Turkish Stream” gas pipeline in October 2016, putting an end to a highly contentious period in Russia-Turkish relation which in late 2015 hit rock bottom after the NATO-member state shot down a Russian jet over Syria, on Saturday Russian state energy giant Gazprom and the Turkish government reached a deal on the construction of the land-based part of the Turkish Stream branch that will bring Russian gas to European consumers.

According to Reuters, the two counterparts signed a protocol that would allow the construction, which was stalled by a legal rift over gas prices, to go forward.  Gazprom and Turkey’s state-owned BOTAS agreed on the terms and conditions of the project, Gazprom said in a statement, adding that the deal “allows to move to practical steps for the implementation of the project.”  The actual construction would be carried out by a joint venture called TurkAkim Gaz Tasima which will be owned by Gazprom and BOTAS in equal shares, Gazprom said.

More…