While there isn t a continent-wide easing of travel restrictions, individual countries are welcoming foreign visitors for tourism and visiting European relatives.
On Sunday, the Belarusian regime seized a Ryanair flight passing over its territory in order to arrest journalist Raman Pratasevich. While the European Union’s reaction to this brazen incident was swift, its overall policy on Belarus – or its lack thereof – suggests that the EU is unsure of the right path forward, is uncertain of its leverage, and fears that there are no good options available for it to take. The EU worries that sanctioning its neighbour will encourage Russia to ramp up its influence in the country, bringing little benefit to either the EU or to Belarusians opposed to the regime. This has led Brussels to adopt a toothless ‘wait and see’ tactical approach, as if hoping that the crisis will resolve itself.
Big and bold A couple of weeks back an emergency funding proposal was brought forward by US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer that will approve $52 billion in spending to significantly boost US semiconductor chip production and research over five years.
With bipartisan support this proposal will be included in a much bigger bill that is set to approve $120 billion of spending on basic US and advanced technology research in a bid to better compete with China.
Schumer said that with US manufacturers suffering badly from the on-going chip shortage it was critical that the economy didnât continue relying on foreign processors. âThis amendment will make sure that we don t have to, he said.
A dog handler checking luggage from the Ryanair plane in Minsk, Belarus, on Sunday.Credit.Onliner.by, via Agence France-Presse Getty Images
International outrage mounted on Monday as new details emerged about a brazen operation by the strongman leader of Belarus to divert a Ryanair passenger jet and arrest a dissident Belarusian journalist traveling on board.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken condemned the forced diversion, saying it was a “shocking act” that “endangered the lives of more than 120 passengers, including U.S. citizens.”
He demanded the “immediate release” of the journalist, Roman Protasevich.
“Initial reports suggesting the involvement of the Belarusian security services and the use of Belarusian military aircraft to escort the plane are deeply concerning and require full investigation,” Mr. Blinken said.