• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

STRATPOL

an independent think-tank - transatlantic relations - European security - Eastern Partnership

Main navigation

  • About
    • Staff
    • Contacts
    • Annual Reports
  • Partners
    • InfoSecurity.sk
    • Slovak Security Policy Institute
    • Central European Institute of Asian Studies
  • Publications
    • Panorama
    • STRATPOL Papers
    • STRATPOL Memos
    • Other
      • STRATPOL ViewPoints
      • Krízový špeciál
  • Projects
    • South Caucasus Security Forum
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
    • Summer University
      • 2018
      • 2017
    • Bezpečnostná akadémia
      • Eseje
    • Disinformation Resilience Dialogue
    • Slovakia in NATO – NATO in Slovakia
      • Events
      • Outputs
    • We Are NATO
    • Strategic Talks
      • South Caucasus, Turkey, Moldova and beyond
      • Hybrid Wars and NATO’s Eastern Flank
      • Critically Thinking Slovakia
      • Turkey, Refugees and Politics
      • Corruption and the Western Balkans
      • Migration policies of V4 countries and France
      • Ukraine and V4 Security Outlines
    • Strategic Dialogues
      • Western Balkan Security Perspectives
      • Battle for and in Ukraine
      • Conflict in Ukraine: Security Implications
    • Resilient Youth Education Project
    • Volebný monitor
    • InfoKompas
  • Bezpečnostná akadémia
    • Eseje
  • Prístup SR k boju s hybridnými hrozbami
  • Digital Infospace Security Initiative
  • Our.Future: Visegrad 2025
    • Activities

7th April 2020

MEMO: US looks inwards, buys masks from Russia

As the COVID-19 pandemic becomes the central issue for governments across the globe, great powers use medical supplies as a means of exerting influence. While Russia and the United States sent masks abroad, their own hospitals continue to suffer from shortages. But Washington seems to shift its approach.

Disregarding the PR boost for Kremlin, the US bought 60 tons of medical equipment from Russia. President Trump stated that he is happy with the delivery, is “not concerned about Russian propaganda”, and will accept any future shipments. US officials also mentioned that the supplies have been sold below market value. This might signal great PR victory for Kremlin, more so because by supplying equipment made by a company sanctioned by US Russia is making Americans violate these sanctions themselves. Putin’s press secretary presented this act as a humanitarian aid rather than a sale, underscoring Russia’s role as an aiding benefactor.

Ensuring domestic supplies now seems to take precedence not only to the PR competition but also to relations with allies, as Trump banned the export of medical materials to all foreign countries. Also, French officials reportedly stated that a shipment of masks from China to France has been instead bought by US buyers, who offered three times what Paris was paying. However, senior US official categorically denied this claim and one of the mentioned French officials later tweeted that France has gotten its shipment, even though hijacking of supplies is a common practice.

While other countries accept damage to international relations as an acceptable cost for acquiring medical supplies, the role of the US as a global superpower gives these actions much wider dimensions. “America first” has always been the staple of Trump’s administration and coronavirus crisis may hasten the change in Washington’s course from its role as the world policeman towards domestic interest.
In turn, the door is once again opening to the Russian influence. Moscow has already sent shipments to the EU countries, especially to Italy. Though a large portion of the equipment was, as an anonymous Italian official said to La Stampa newspaper, useless, the official numbers nevertheless help to improve Russian prestige across Europe. Striking message sends even the presence of Russian military personal in a NATO country, near US air bases. As the US is stepping back, we will likely see Russia stepping up in this PR contest.


STRATPOL Memos is a project which on a weekly basis provides a short overview of the most important selected moments of Euro-Atlantic security and related areas. Our goal is to provide brief and informative comments with short analysis putting news into a broader context.

Responsible editor Matúš Jevčák.

Author: Martin Fornůsek

The text has not undergone language revision.

Filed Under: News, STRATPOL Memos Tagged With: aid, COVID-19, medical laid, pandemic, PR, Putin, Russia, Trump, USA

Footer

Subscribe to our newsletter:

Contacts

Address: Štúrova 3, 81102 Bratislava, Slovakia
E-mail: office@stratpol.sk
Phone: +421 908 327 491

Copyright © 2023 · STRATPOL · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT