Saudi Arabia's annual GDP is roughly $750 billion. There are parties who would be more than willing to pay a large amount for the oil losses directly to SR just to damage Russia. If you watch the world-wide effort to bring down the 5 BRICS countries this is just one more play. These folks would think nothing of spending a trillion to save 20 trillion. It is not so much about money as it is about power and control.

Russian GDP is minus five percent, inflation is 20%, interest rates are at 17%, unemployment is ten percent, the ruble continues to tank, and now no more tomatoes from Turkey. As EU-Nato countries sanctions continue to penetrate the Russian economy and financial system, a happy new year means getting out which is what foreign capital continues to do with all deliberate speed.

Even better for the West, Saudi Arabia doesn't like Putin or Russia either. Putin is just not welcome in the ME. Putin's strong support of the Shia Assad clan of Alawites puts Russia into a small geographic patch of the ME and in opposition to the majority populations and governments of the region. .

Putin's Bricks have same as Russia put themselves into their own rubble quite on their own and of their own doing. The direct consequence is that Brics and their collapsing minion countries such as Venezuela and Argentina exist as Brics in name only. The 70-some-odd countries that Brics publicists had cited as supporting Brics remain as disconnected and disjointed as ever.

We're looking at countries whose political economy are fundamentally flawed: Russia, the CCP China, Brazil. The only surviving once-Bric country is India whose growth rate is ranging from 5% to 7%. India is progressing and developing under its recently elected pro-US PM Mahrinda Modi who is more anti-government bureaucracy and red tape than Ronnie Reagan ever was.

CCP Dictators in Beijing continue to claim the northern third of India adjacent to Tibet as rightfully a part of China. It is a major strategic development that Modi has flipped off the arrogant CCP in Beijing which overall claims more territory outside China than exists within it.

Brics never had any foundation in realism which has all along meant the Brics and their disappeared development bank have no mortar. Bottom line here is that except for Assad, Putin can still count his friends on his index finger. And Assad is nervous.

If this means less Russians in Thailand i am all for it. Now if the Euro would crash that would be even better.

Thailand should offer special heavily discounted rates to Russians to keep that market ticking over. Pattaya is the destination of choice, so it should be the focus of the discount campaign

STUFF THAT!!!!!!!

Why should a Russian get a cheaper hotel than I just because of nationality?

Here's an idea- offer heavily discounted rates to ALL, regardless of where they come from. Prices have risen far too high in the past few years anyway, and are not worth it for a clapped out broken infrastructure dump of a town with a polluted beach and 2 derelict beach walkways.

Saudi Arabia's annual GDP is roughly $750 billion. There are parties who would be more than willing to pay a large amount for the oil losses directly to SR just to damage Russia. If you watch the world-wide effort to bring down the 5 BRICS countries this is just one more play. These folks would think nothing of spending a trillion to save 20 trillion. It is not so much about money as it is about power and control.

Russian GDP is minus five percent, inflation is 20%, interest rates are at 17%, unemployment is ten percent, the ruble continues to tank, and now no more tomatoes from Turkey. As EU-Nato countries sanctions continue to penetrate the Russian economy and financial system, a happy new year means getting out which is what foreign capital continues to do with all deliberate speed.

Even better for the West, Saudi Arabia doesn't like Putin or Russia either. Putin is just not welcome in the ME. Putin's strong support of the Shia Assad clan of Alawites puts Russia into a small geographic patch of the ME and in opposition to the majority populations and governments of the region. .

Putin's Bricks have same as Russia put themselves into their own rubble quite on their own and of their own doing. The direct consequence is that Brics and their collapsing minion countries such as Venezuela and Argentina exist as Brics in name only. The 70-some-odd countries that Brics publicists had cited as supporting Brics remain as disconnected and disjointed as ever.

We're looking at countries whose political economy are fundamentally flawed: Russia, the CCP China, Brazil. The only surviving once-Bric country is India whose growth rate is ranging from 5% to 7%. India is progressing and developing under its recently elected pro-US PM Mahrinda Modi who is more anti-government bureaucracy and red tape than Ronnie Reagan ever was.

CCP Dictators in Beijing continue to claim the northern third of India adjacent to Tibet as rightfully a part of China. It is a major strategic development that Modi has flipped off the arrogant CCP in Beijing which overall claims more territory outside China than exists within it.

Brics never had any foundation in realism which has all along meant the Brics and their disappeared development bank have no mortar. Bottom line here is that except for Assad, Putin can still count his friends on his index finger. And Assad is nervous.

I hope for a return of the Russian Dream,, third in line for bread. [emoji122][emoji122]