On February 24, 2026, the Valdai Discussion Club hosted an expert discussion titled “Sanctions Against Allies and Partners: Limits of Application and Significance for Russia.” The discussion was moderated by Ivan Timofeev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.
William Alfredo Castillo, Vice Minister of People's Power for Economy and Finance of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Co-Chair of the Bilateral Working Group on Unilateral Coercive Measures, stated that the United States is attempting to strangle Venezuela economically and achieve regime change, including through sanctions, which it uses as leverage to expand its influence in Venezuelan affairs. Meanwhile, Venezuela has never used oil as a political weapon. It was the Trump administration's sanctions in 2017 that forced European and American companies to leave the Venezuelan market, although Venezuela itself has never refused to sell its hydrocarbons to the United States. The Republic is currently going through a difficult period; it must contain Washington's aggression and military escalation using peaceful means—international law, diplomacy, and dialogue. Against this backdrop, Venezuela must strengthen ties with Russia and China, as well as cooperation with BRICS. It rejects any attempts to restrict trade and cooperation between countries.
"The world is so global in nature that sanctions against individual countries, especially large economies, have a greater impact on the economies of the sanctioning countries," noted Ekaterina Arapova, Director, Senior Researcher at the Center for Sanctions Policy Expertise at the Institute of International Studies, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Relations at MGIMO University. In addition to direct damage, there is also indirect damage, and it is colossal. However, ruling elites are not always concerned about the economic interests of their countries. Speaking about the Russian situation, Arapova emphasized that the avalanche of sanctions imposed against Russia has undoubtedly dealt damage to its economy, but Russia's adaptive capacity has proven sufficiently strong to mitigate this effect. Discussing the US Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Donald Trump's tariffs, Arapova noted that Trump, who prefers tariffs to traditional sanctions, will likely continue the same path, changing the legal framework. However, the specific parameters of his future policy are still unclear. This also applies to secondary tariffs, a key tool for Trump.
Amit Bhandari, Research Fellow for Energy and Environment at Gateway House (India), commented on India's policy regarding secondary sanctions imposed by the US and purchases of Russian oil. He noted that US sanctions cover sectors in which Washington seeks market dominance, and this applies primarily to the energy sector. India does not recognize unilateral measures, but it must work within the context of existing sanctions. This leads to a decline in oil purchases from Russia. Nevertheless, New Delhi will seek opportunities to act in accordance with its national interests.
Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, believes that the United States is attempting to maintain its economic hegemony in the emerging multipolar world by dividing countries into adversaries and allies. Coercion is used against both. Washington seeks to contain adversaries and drive allies into dependence. Secondary sanctions are used precisely to cement this dependence. According to Diesen, the United States wants the entire world to depend on American technology, supply chains, payment systems, and Washington-controlled transportation corridors. However, the hegemon is now waning and new centres of power are emerging. It is becoming more difficult for Washington to control other players, and its competitiveness is declining. Under these conditions, an open, liberal economic system cannot be maintained, and the United States is increasingly utilizing sanctions. "Against this backdrop, it is in the interests of America's allies to diversify their partnerships so as not to become completely dependent on the United States," Diesen concluded.
Taha Özhan, Research Director at the Ankara Institute, believes American sanctions shouldn't come as a surprise. "This is the system's workings, not some flaw," he noted. "We've long lived in a world where market access is used as a weapon." The dollar, financial flows, law, and capital markets—all are elements of the infrastructure controlling which secures US dominance. This system has many layers. American economic coercion is very clearly structured and based on a systemic approach. In this situation, diversifying partnerships, reducing dependence, and finding alternative suppliers is essential, but this cannot be achieved quickly, Özhan argued.
