The more and more trivial and petulant conduct of some EU member states was on full show at this time, as Lithuanian and Latvian authorities blocked Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s aircraft from flying by their airspace en path to Moscow.
The journey, which coincides with the eightieth anniversary of Victory Day—commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany—is a part of a diplomatic mission by Vučić and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The Baltic states, in line with the Serbian media firm Novosti, cited obscure “technical and diplomatic sensitivities” for the restriction, a thinly veiled excuse that displays extra about their insecurities and alignment with Brussels groupthink than any reputable worldwide commonplace. Whereas Lithuania and Latvia seem content material to grandstand, Polish authorities took a considerably extra nuanced, if nonetheless condescending, strategy.
Warsaw granted overflight permission to Prime Minister Fico’s authorities plane, however not with out publicly chastising him for attending the Russian occasion. The Polish International Ministry issued a sanctimonious assertion condemning Fico’s resolution to have interaction with Moscow.
But notably, they acknowledged there have been “no formal worldwide authorized obstacles” to the overflight request—an admission that the bans by others are purely political.
Confusion swirled Tuesday afternoon, with conflicting reviews over whether or not Poland was additionally denying airspace to Fico. Preliminary claims from the Serbian media outlet Novosti and regional sources mentioned that each Poland and Lithuania had blocked his flight.
Nevertheless, later within the day, Poland clarified that that they had accredited the overflight however remained “essential” of his journey. The conflicting messages depart the impression that some EU governments can’t even coordinate their very own messaging, not to mention forge a coherent overseas coverage.
Fico, by no means one to mince phrases, called the Baltic states’ overflight denials “hysterical.” Talking on the matter, he famous, “Simply think about the place worldwide relations at the moment are.” His sentiment echoes rising frustration amongst Central and Jap European leaders who search to keep up open channels with all international powers—one thing Brussels appears intent on punishing.
Vučić, for his half, has remained agency regardless of mounting EU strain. The Serbian chief beforehand promised to attend the Victory Day ceremonies and adopted by, albeit reportedly with out an official delegation, with a view to defend Serbian officers from EU retribution.
His go to can be anticipated to incorporate bilateral talks with Putin to debate regional stability within the Balkans—a difficulty of much more substance than the shallow virtue-signaling coming from Vilnius and Riga.
The EU has already warned candidate states like Serbia to keep away from Moscow, threatening obscure “penalties” for many who defy the directive. But such posturing solely exposes the EU’s personal insecurities. {That a} continent as soon as saved from Hitler’s rabid Nazism by the very troopers being honored in Moscow at this time now seeks to erase or delegitimize that reminiscence is a tragic irony.
Even sadder is the truth that small, largely inconsequential states like Lithuania and Latvia now see match to impose themselves on the diplomatic missions of sovereign nations for no different purpose than to curry favor with Brussels.
Because the West continues its descent into performative overseas coverage and ideological purity checks, leaders like Vučić and Fico stand out not for his or her defiance, however for his or her adherence to precept—partaking the place needed, remembering historical past actually, and refusing to bend the knee to the small-minded whims of bureaucrats and their junior enforcers within the Baltics.
Will extra European leaders be a part of them in selecting diplomacy over dogma?
