Confiscation and threat ... Corona ignites a "war of masks" between major western countries

Against the background of the spread of the new Corona pandemic, wars raged between countries - especially the major ones - to obtain respirators and medical protection equipment, which is what a German official described as "contemporary piracy".

The virus increased the need for protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, all over the world, until countries began seizing shipments of those materials that were destined for other countries, in an unprecedented scene.

The first example of these intercontinental wars occurred between the Czech Republic and Italy in early March, when the Czechs confiscated 110,000 masks that Italy had purchased, and the problem was solved through diplomatic channels.

Rome faced a similar problem with Paris, where the French authorities seized masks purchased by the Swedish health care company, "Molnleke" on the third of last month, for the benefit of both Italy and Spain.

French "piracy"
After the Swedish government intervened, France agreed to hand over a portion of the retained muzzles to Italy and Spain, the most affected by the virus.

After about two weeks of diplomatic efforts, Paris sent only half the amount of retained gags to Italy and Spain, while the Swedish company announced that its requests to purchase the masks for Italy and Spain would pass in the future via Belgium, to avoid repetition of what happened.

French President Emmanuel Macron said at the end of last month that the issue of muzzles reflected a sensitive issue of national sovereignty, and that France had started to increase its production of masks and the necessary protection equipment from the virus.

Germany also confiscated 240,000 masks intended for export to Switzerland on the eighth of last month, and Switzerland launched a diplomatic initiative to solve the problem.

Reno Moselle, head of the Baka region in southern France, announced on April 2 that China had sent masks and other protective products - which France had requested - to the United States of America.

He added that the Americans bought the gags that the French had requested, and paid them for China in cash, so the cargo plane changed its course from France to the United States.

Germany also accused the United States of confiscating 200,000 masks, bought by Berlin, to combat the epidemic.

German Senator Andreas Giselle said on April 3 that the United States had seized FFB2 masks, which were purchased by the Berlin Provincial Administration, in Bangkok, Thailand. "The actions of the United States are a model of contemporary piracy," he said.

Giselle asked the German federal government to notify the United States of the need to adhere to international rules.

He added, "Washington cannot treat transatlantic partners in this manner. Wild West methods should not be applied even in times of global crises."

inner struggle

Even within the United States of America, a war of masks broke out between the states and the federal government.

And a federal government agency in New York Port has confiscated 3 million muzzles purchased by the state of Massachusetts (northeast), according to American newspapers, which did not disclose the agency's name.

The Washington Post reported late last month that some states controlled by the Republican Party (President Donald Trump's party) received more support than they requested.

Trump threatened the M3 protective masks company until it stopped exporting its masks to other countries, and said on April 3 that continuing exports of the masks would have "serious consequences" for the company and would cost them a lot.