Skip to main content

LEVERAGE – VALUE PROPOSITION – COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: MORE POWERFUL THAN NUKES

 

  

While Iran was making all efforts to get nukes to counter their arch rivals possession of one of the most lethal weapons of war that has ever been developed, they completely ignored the leverage they have in the Strait of Hormuz. This has proven to be more powerful and effective than the nuclear weapon that they have failed to develop and lost so much for. Iran’s economy has been decimated over the last couple of decades because of this quest. It took an unprovoked attack for them to discover the magnitude of the noose they hold around the global jugular of world trade. Over 20% of the global energy (petroleum, their products, and gas) and petrochemicals, such as fertilizers, are ferried through the Strait of Hormuz annually. Closing that strait creates panic everywhere, including in the corridors of their enemies.

The war in Ukraine has also shown how technology leverage can counter the onslaught of one of the most powerful militaries in the world.

Donald Trump has used every leverage America has to extract concessions, remove governments, force the hands of terrorists to bow, tilt trade deals in America's favor, and create an awareness of the danger of overdependence for its NATO allies.   

Currently, Africa appears to be the weakest partner in any deal involving powerful countries. The unfortunate truth is that Africa has many levers that it can use to extract what it needs from any powerful partner. A few countries in Africa that have identified these leverages are using them to grow their economies. They are no longer losing at the negotiating table – they are getting credits at much lower rates, and they are getting deals at the quality you find among European sister nations. Rwanda is one such country. Burkina Faso is doing the same and Niger. Poor countries need to find their leverages – their value propositions – their competitive advantages to better themselves. The reality is that no good deal is going to come to any nation without them knowing their worth – the world is full of SHARKS… They will eat you alive if you don’t know your worth and demand to be treated based on your worth…

 


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

STATE OF THE NATION - Nigeria takes one step forward, and ten steps backward...

I just came back from Nigeria . I traversed the length and breadth of the nation a bit in my three-week stay. Something is different about the country compared to when I visited last year.... The people are more desperate... Hunger has increased astronomically.... The gap between the haves and have-nots has further widened... You feel impunity in the air... You see police collecting bribes openly like we have not seen since the Shagari era in 1983... There are more law enforcement agents on the roads now, yet the crime rate has not abated... You see VIO , Road Safety, State Law enforcers, the Police, everywhere mounting illegal roadblocks... I heard things from those close to the seat of power about those who hold the reins of power, and I weep for Nigeria - it is beyond disheartening... Projects are being abandoned because a significant portion has been given as bribes to government officials like governors and ministers, including major monarchs - they all collect money for projects...
Post a Comment
Read more

WHO SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE NUKES IN OUR WORLD TODAY?

I quote the father of nukes himself, Albert Einstein , “ Mankind invented the atomic bomb , but no mouse would ever construct a mousetrap ”… No nation should have nukes. If some would, then any nation who want should be able to… current situation creates a power imbalance because those who have it are seen as extremely powerful, and those who don’t are extremely weak nations… Here is a list of nations with nukes – declared and undeclared: U.S., China, Russia, Pakistan, India, France, UK, Israel, and North Korea . These countries host nukes from other countries – Germany , Italy , Türkiye , Belgium , Netherlands and Belarus … Many of USSR ’s former regions like Ukraine and Kazakhstan had nukes, and were tricked to give them up, a decision they all regret today. It is known that Japan , though do not have nukes, have capabilities to develop and launch them within a short time, even from the space. Why can’t other nations have nukes? Ownership of nukes is why Iran is holding the...
Post a Comment
Read more

U.S. SECRETLY BANNED MANY VISA CATEGORIES FOR NIGERIANS

  Secretly, the U.S. government has paused the issuance of OPT (Optional Practical Training - temporary work permit) to Nigerian students. They have also ceased awarding new student visas to Nigerians with full scholarships. They did this for several other visa categories, including F1 , asylum , and naturalization . It is not that you cannot apply; you can; they just will not process your visa. The reasoning behind this remains a mystery, other than the fact that Nigeria is a nation of concern. No Nigerian has carried out a terrorist attack on U.S. soil or anywhere outside their country... Some relate this to the non-cooperation of President Tinubu 's administration with the current U.S. government in making Nigeria a dumping ground for undocumented migrants. Ghanaians continue to enjoy access to all U.S. visas. The disheartening thing is that this ban/pause/whatever also extends to sponsorship of siblings and several other visa categories... A new executive order, a few days ago...
Post a Comment
Read more