Richard Nephew

Huge fan of the EPPO, which is a serious anticorruption organization.

You want to restore faith in institutions? Police them in transparent, fair, impartial ways.

America’s Toothless Sanctions on Russian Oil Last month, the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, signaling a renewed desire to drive Moscow to the negotiating table in its war a...

For U.S. sanctions against Russia to be effective, Washington must also “stem the pipeline of energy-fueled cash from Beijing to Moscow,” write Erica Downs and @richardmnephew.bsky.social.

America’s Toothless Sanctions on Russian Oil Last month, the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, signaling a renewed desire to drive Moscow to the negotiating table in its war a...

Latest from me with Erica Downs on Russia-China and oil sanctions.

October was a start but the USG has to do more if it wants to be serious about pressure on Russia and demonstrate to China that it means what it says about other issues to boot.

www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Dan's point about the world having passed us by is a reason why that book I was thinking about writing -- the value the U.S. received from expanding good governance as an international operating principle and how to do it more -- has been permanently shelved. Felt like a eulogy.

Absolutely appalling.

"Accept this prejudicial peace or we will abandon you to the wolves" is disgraceful, dishonorable, and an unnecessary capitulation to Russia.

www.reuters.com/world/europe...

And, what does "if Russia invades Ukraine (except for a rapid coordinated military response)..." mean?

Appalling, confusing, and incoherent stuff.

It does get worse as you read it.

My "favorite" part is the gracious concession that "European NATO forces will be stationed in Poland." You know, that European country that also happens to be in NATO.

Up to Ukraine to decide, of course, but accepting territorial/sovereignty concessions in exchange for security commitments from a guy who openly questioned our 75-year NATO obligations seems like a bad idea.

Scoop: Trump plan asks Ukraine to cede additional territory for security guarantee "We are now going to wait. The ball is in Zelensky's court."

Pretty disgusting surrender ter...I mean "proposal" being offered here.

www.axios.com/2025/11/19/t...

Inside the Ukrainian Corruption Probe Edging Closer to Zelensky The investigation has reached higher up in Ukraine and closer to the president himself than any other during his tenure.

Fighting corruption remains essential for Ukraine to defeat Russia's war of aggression; NABU/SAPO merit praise for their courage in investigating and prosecuting these cases, consistent with the rule of law.

www.wsj.com/world/europe...

How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.

Oh, come on.

How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...

👇 Unless Congress affirmatively voted to authorize Trump admin strikes against suspected drug cartel affiliates (which are already illegal under domestic and international law), another law kicks in on Monday that requires the President to withdraw the U.S. military:

In my job as US anti-corruption coordinator, I spent a lot of time talking to partners about the importance of accountability. A lot of people couldn't hold their leaders accountable; they asked us to do what we could via sanctions. Thinking of those people right now, amid another betrayal.

Well done.

Chaser:

This was well done, by the way:

Shot:

Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases

Try reading this without your jaw dropping.

Yes, even now, my jaw dropped.

Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...

Protest is patriotic.

Much like with US sanctions, the truth is probably closer to: over time, with expanded restrictions, China will find this weapon far less potent; in the meantime, it'll still have power. I know, that's less attention-grabby. That's why I don't write headlines for a living. 2/2

China can only fire the big gun of refined metals restrictions once China is once again rolling out the big cannon of curbs on metals and minerals vital to the global energy transition, as well as key components in weapons and electronics.

This is interesting but my main thought in reading is: yeah, maybe? I don't know, the reality is that inertia is real, as the US has found with its financial sanctions, OPEC found with oil, etc, etc. Cheap/accessible will always find clients. www.reuters.com/markets/comm...

Four Keys for Iran Snapback Implementation Inevitable attempts by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs will require a U.S.-led campaign to track the regime’s proliferation activities and block transfers of related materials.

New from @richardmnephew.bsky.social: "The United States and its partners should look carefully at the UN Security Council resolutions and identify similar ways to harness their measures toward preventing Iran from reconstituting its nuclear and missile programs."

The elimination of USAID is a moral atrocity and all involved made a choice to enable, and then lie about, ending the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

It would be nice if Treasury were to explain why rather than just sneak it into a designation announcement on the Sinaloa cartel. Yeah, we see what you're doing there.

Treasury removed sanctions on former president of Paraguay Cartes yesterday without an explanation.

I guess I can say that I'm not surprised, just disappointed.

Cartes was corrupt and is a corrupting influence in Paraguay. Removal of these sanctions doesn't change that.

Worth noting: the modality may be a little baroque, but the sanctionability of all of this is absolutely clear under US law and has been for over a decade.

Exclusive | How China Secretly Pays Iran for Oil and Avoids U.S. Sanctions A hidden funding conduit has deepened economic ties between the two U.S. rivals in defiance of Washington’s efforts to isolate Tehran.

Important story: U.S. sanctions make it nearly impossible to pay Iran for its oil. China has figured out how to do it anyway, in an arrangement that has largely been secret.

www.wsj.com/world/middle...

A very interesting experience. Thanks for folks who participated. Hope you found it interesting too.

It's a vital moment for the challenge presented by Iran's nuclear program -- so I'm trying something new. Swing by and ask me anything on @Reddit today at 3:30PM ET. Thanks to the @Reddit team & moderators at r/IAmA for helping to organize. www.reddit.com/r/AMA/commen...