US Foreign Minister Blinken Says Sending Free Russian Grains To Africa Will Not Change Market Situation

Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Kitack Lim while reviewing the seeds to be exported from Ukraine via the Black Sea. (Wikimedia Commons/International Maritime Organization)

JAKARTA - The United States government believes that sending free grains from Russia to a number of African countries will not stop rising prices or change the food market situation, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said in an interview with French radio station RFI.

"Russia appears to have revealed the idea of exporting 50,000 metric tons of seeds to five or six countries. Under the agreement, which Russia has torn, we exported 20 million metric tons to developing countries," Foreign Minister Blinken said. August 8th.

"So, the 50,000 tonnes proposed by Russia versus 20 million tonnes are exported under the agreement; there is no comparison. What Russia proposes is only water in the bucket. It doesn't solve the problem," he continued.

"That will not stop price increases. This will not change the fact that millions of tons of grains have been removed from the market and are not available to those in need, especially in developing countries," Foreign Minister Blinken said.

It is known that a package of documents aimed at solving the problem of food and fertilizer supply in the global market, or the Black Sea Grain Agreement, was signed on July 22, 2022 in Istanbul and extended several times after that before finally ending on July 17.

Russia refused to extend it again, as part of a deal that envisions removing barriers to Russian agricultural exports has never been implemented.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed that Russia would continue the deal once its demands are met.

In a meeting with leaders of African countries last month in St. Petersburg, President Putin said he would deliver tens of thousands of tons of seeds in a few months despite Western sanctions, which he said made it difficult for Moscow to export its grains and fertilizers.

He said Russia expects a record grain harvest and is ready to replace Ukraine's grain exports to Africa, both commercially and in aid in respecting what it says is Moscow's important role in global food security.

"We will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25-50,000 tons of free grains in the next 3-4 months," President Putin said at the Russia-Africa summit.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the surge in world food prices due to the end of the Black Sea deal and Russia's bombing of the Danish River port Ukraine has used as an export route, "very devastating for vulnerable countries struggling to feed their people".

On the same occasion, African Union chairman Azali Assoumani called on Russia and Ukraine to "live side by side peacefully, saying this would save the lives of people who depend on exporting food from the two countries.