It is not a new concern, but it has redoubled in recent weeks. The EU warns that the Russian siege of tons of grain in Ukraine will cause famine in the most vulnerable corners of the world. The blockade of Russia, which unilaterally withdrew from the so-called Black Sea agreement in mid-July, “further aggravates the global food crisis, putting hundreds of millions of vulnerable people around the world at risk.” It is the warning that Josep Borrell, High Representative of Foreign Affairs of the EU, has expressed to the 27 ministers of the branch through a letter collected by EFE.
“War is also waged by blocking food access to markets. European society must be aware that this is a test of resistance.” It might seem like a recent statement, but these are some words by Josep Borrell a year ago now. A few days later, Ukraine and Russia closed an agreement, under the auspices of the UN and mediated by Turkey, to allow the export of the 20 million tons of grain that lay blocked at the gates of the Black Sea. A movement, which Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, described at the time as “a beacon of relief.” Barely a year after its entry into force, on July 17, Moscow withdrew from the pact.
According to the United Nations Global Crisis Response Group, 1,200 million people on the planet are directly exposed to suffering a “perfect storm” due to the blockade of products such as sunflower oil, corn or fertilizers. The turmoil of the war in Ukraine is cracking the seams beyond the confines of Europe. This week, the EU Statistical Office (Eurostat) revealed that food in the Eurozone costs 10.8% more today than a year ago.
These shocks are more acute in developing countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East, which have a strong dependence on grain from Ukraine, known as the “breadbasket” of the world. All this together with the adverse effects of climate change, instability in countries like Niger or the rise of terrorism and conflicts threaten to unleash strong exoduses from Jordan to Ghana. As an emergency measure, the Europeans are preparing an emergency financial package estimated at 18,000 million euros to alleviate the consequences of the food crisis in the most vulnerable areas.
In the middle, the battle for the story is fought. Russia accuses the Ukrainians of not fulfilling their part of the agreement and the Europeans of hindering the transit of the grain with their economic sanctions. While the EU has been warning for some time that the Kremlin is using food as a weapon of war. “It is an inhuman attitude that is going to create a huge food crisis throughout the world,” said Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, at the last Foreign Affairs Council. During the meeting, held at the end of last month in the community capital, the High Representative accused Russia of bombing the infrastructure of the port of Odessa, destroying more than 60,000 tons of grain. Continued attacks that raised dust and concern because they occurred closer than ever to NATO territory.
Also in the background, each side moves its chips to add allies and sympathizers on the world board. Putin plans a visit to Istanbul, which still has no fixed date, to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And he has already gone ahead announcing the free shipment of between 25,000 and 50,000 tons of grain to various African countries. The EU, for its part, activates its emergency calls to the G-20. “If the international community speaks with a clear and unified voice, Russia could reconsider and resume its participation in this vital initiative,” the letter states.
In parallel, the Europeans are studying the formulas to allow the transit of cereals by land, through the so-called Solidarity Corridors. A scenario that generates tension and not a little division between the capitals. Border countries such as Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria vetoed the entry of Ukrainian agricultural products a few months ago, alleging an existential threat to their farmers and peasants.
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