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However, now many are pressuring President Biden to do just that – lead a multinational naval flotilla to essentially break Russia’s blockade.
Why does this matter? World food supplies.
As Joshua Keating of the Grid notes, due to the world’s dependence on Ukrainian grain, and other commodities: “the battle for the Black Sea may also be the key fight when it comes to Ukraine’s struggle to keep its battered economy afloat. And it’s not an exaggeration to say it could directly impact the lives of millions of people around the world.” (RELATED: Ukraine Closes Seaports Seized by Russia)
The Grid explains:
Prior to the war, Black Sea shipping accounted for half of the country’s total external trade and 90 percent of its trade in grains including wheat and sunflower oil. Ukraine is the world’s fourth-largest grain exporter, and losses could top $6 billion.
The Grid adds:
…the effects of the blockade are being felt globally via disruptions to the international food supply, particularly in food-vulnerable countries in the Middle East and Africa that were heavily dependent on Ukrainian grain. Ukraine grows enough food to feed 400 million people around the world, at a time when prices were already on the rise.
Natalie Jaresko, the country’s former minister of finance notes that: “There’s about 20 million tons sitting in storage that has to be exported to make room for the new harvest,” Jaresko said. “Otherwise, we know something’s going to rot.”
But Keating adds: “Critical as food is, it’s not the only commodity affected by the maritime blockade. Ukraine produces around half the world’s supply of the neon gas used to produce semiconductor chips. Ukraine is also a major producer of the wire harnesses used in European cars’ electrical systems.”
When asked about the first thing the international community could do to support Ukraine’s economy, Jaresko answered “unblock the ports.”
However, this is more complicated than it first appears. The Grid notes:
…though Russia has not formally declared a blockade, that’s the current reality. “No one’s going to take a chance of going in there right now, either running astray of mines or the Russian navy,” Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner and shipping historian, told Grid. Even if a shipping company were willing to take the risk, insurance rates are skyrocketing, making travel to Ukrainian ports prohibitively expensive. At least 80 merchant ships are stuck in Ukrainian ports, and at least 10 have been attacked.
Still, the Washington Examiner reports that:
…some allies are trying to assemble a coalition in favor of a maritime initiative, despite Washington’s hesitance. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis aired the argument publicly this week in London, where he met with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and outlined a plan for a multinational “nonmilitary humanitarian mission” to defy Russia’s blockade.
“In this endeavor, military ships or planes or both would be used to ensure that the grain supplies can leave Odesa safely and reach the Bosphorus without Russian interference,” Landsbergis told the Guardian. “We would need a coalition of the willing — countries with significant naval power to protect the shipping lanes, and countries that are affected by this.”
Other NATO allies regard U.S. naval power as an essential component of the prospective operation, given the importance of deterring Russian forces from attacking the flotilla. “It’s probably only America that Russia would be afraid of,” a Baltic official said.
Landsbergis’ willingness to go public with his proposal reflects his apparent impatience with Team Biden’s go-slow approach.
However, much like a no-fly zone, NATO countries will be reluctant to put their sailors where they might get involved in direct combat with the Russians.
Additionally, Ukraine is not going to allow the maritime route to Odesa to be opened, and de-mined, exposing themselves to possible Russian naval assault, without serious western military guarantees.
Meanwhile, some of Ukraine’s backers are promoting another solution, giving Ukraine more firepower to fight the blockade themselves. In that vein, Denmark announced it would be delivering ground-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Ukraine, in order to help break the blockade.
The biggest issue here is that the Russians don’t need overwhelming naval superiority in the Black Sea. They just need to make the region too dangerous for international shipping. (RELATED: Ukraine Sinks Russia’s Third Largest and Best Defended Warship – The Moskva)
And millions could starve as a result of U.S. inaction. It may be time for Biden to make a move. ALD
READ NEXT: Cruz Introduces Bills After Investigators Uncover Russian Effort to Stymie US Energy Production >>
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
It will be an act if war against Russ I a and I assume Russia will respond with war heads.
Better question us “Does the USA want to protect the biden family to the point of massive deaths and possibly nuclear war so theirs and Ukrainias corruption can remain a not so secretive secret?”
Yes! Biden wants war so he can declare Martial Law and cancel elections. He will also stage a few False Flags this summer. Gas lines, EMP attack, bread line etc.
…………………and instigate RIOTS ALL SUMMER AND FALL!
It will be an act of war against Russ I a and I assume Russia will respond with war heads.
Better question us “Does the USA want to protect the biden family to the point of massive deaths and possibly nuclear war so theirs and Ukrainias corruption can remain a not so secretive secret?”
Why has the UN not stepped forward with an equivalent humanitarian flotilla proposal? Should that not be their primary job? It is not NATO that needs the food but the he Middle East and Africa …
It’s not our responsibility to break that blockade.
First, it’s far more the responsibility of Europe.
Second, there are multiple accesses to Ukraine overland.
Most importantly, using US military force against Russia is a serious escalation that would suck us into a wider war. Only a demented imbecile would consider that…..wait, what?
I too believe that the Europeans (NATO) should open the Ukraine ports so humanitarian supplies can be exported! Need to have the worthless UN and Geneva groups to back that action!
If muslims have to stop killing Israelis and Christians in Africa to plant crops for a few years everyone will be better off!
The UN and NATO need to tell Russia that they are going to send ships there to pick up those things needed in the rest of the world, and that there will be a multi-nation military flotilla to escort those ships to and from the ports. Should they fire on the ships there will be return fire.
I fully concur. The world needs to stand up to Russia.