By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- On Monday, July 17 – the deadline for renewing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on behalf of the White House that calls Russia’s actions a “continued weaponization of food.” The statement began by stating: “The United States deeply regrets Russia’s decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The Russian government’s continued weaponization of food harms millions of vulnerable people around the world.” Blinken’s statement said Ukrainian grain and foodstuff has gone to some of the “most food insecure regions of the globe” that include the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Yemen and Afghanistan.
The statement further explained: “Despite Russia’s claims, the UN has facilitated record Russian exports of food, coordinating with the private sector and the US, EU and UK to clarify any concerns raised by Russia.” The statement made clear that “no G7 sanctions are in place on Russian food and fertilizer exports,” and stated that, “Russia, unfortunately, does not contribute to the World Food Program, and its exports focus on higher income countries, not the world’s poorest.”
The White House has tied Russia’s decision on the grain deal with its veto last week at a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) meeting of a UNSC resolution, reauthorizing critical cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syrians that would have come via Turkiye. The Biden administration expressed its gratitude to the U.N. and Turkiye for “their work to extend the lifesaving Black Sea Grain Initiative and bring both Ukrainian and Russian grain to world markets. We urge the Government of Russia to reverse its decision, to resume negotiations, and to extend, expand, and fully implement the Initiative immediately for the benefit of the millions of people who depend on Ukrainian grain.” Analysts and experts say that if the grain deal is not renewed, it could trigger the worst global food crisis in centuries.
