From Economic to Kinetic Statecraft: Enforcing US Oil Sanctions

From Economic to Kinetic Statecraft: Enforcing US Oil Sanctions

February 27, 2026 · 1h 8m

About this episode

The episode discusses U.S. economic statecraft and its implications for oil sanctions on Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.

In this episode of the Oil Ground Up Podcast, guest Rachel Ziemba joins host Rory Johnston to provide an update on the rapidly shifting landscape of U.S. economic statecraft and its impact on Venezuela, Iran, and Russia. The discussion explores the unprecedented transition in Venezuela, where the U.S. has moved from an aggressive naval blockade to a tightly managed stabilization effort following the extraction of Nicolás Maduro. Regarding Iran, Ziemba examines the massive military buildup in the Middle East and evaluates the possibility of a pragmatic "deal" designed to lower global oil prices. The conversation also breaks down the convoluted sanctions regime against Russia, detailing how recent blocking measures on major firms like Rosneft and Lukoil have significantly curtailed Indian imports. Finally, the episode highlights the challenges of the "shadow fleet" and the geopolitical dance between the U.S. administration and international oil majors to secure global supply chains.

People in this episode

Host: Rory Johnston

Guest: Rachel Ziemba

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rosneft, Lukoil

Places: Venezuela, Iran, Russia

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