Diplomatic Missions in Morocco Condemn Russia’s ‘Weaponization’ of Food

Rabat – As the global prices of food and fertilizer surge due to the war in Ukraine, diplomatic missions in Morocco condemned Moscow’s “weaponization” of food, urging President Putin to put an end to the “immoral attack” on Ukraine and its lingering effects.

In an open letter, Ambassadors and Chief of Missions in Morocco said, “Putin’s aggression on Ukraine endangers the global supply of grain, stoking food insecurity amongst the world’s most vulnerable populations.”

The diplomats – who represent 23 countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, EU, Korea, and Japan- warned of the serious impact of rising food prices on destabilizing fragile communities, increasing hunger, and driving migration.

“Food security and nutrition are public goods, and hunger should not be used as a weapon,” they argued.

The diplomats further noted that Russian forces have halted the exportation of 20 million tons of grains to the world, including Morocco, dedicating such food to Russian-controlled areas.

The letter also called out Russia for stopping its grain and fertilizer exports to non-friendly nations, adding that “President Putin is fully aware that his aggression threatens the world with hunger.”

In response to the Russian leadership claims that the G7 sanctions have caused the current food crisis, the diplomats noted that those accusations are “false,” since the adopted sanctions “explicitly exclude food supplies, meaning they do not prevent any country from purchasing wheat from Russia.”

The diplomats notably called for global action to alleviate the impact of the food crisis on numerous countries through the support of the World Food Program activities and national programs.

Meeting in Berlin to discuss global food security, senior officials are demanding an implementation of a “humanitarian passage for food” to deliver grains and other goods to people in need.

“This calls for nothing less than a united response by the international community, of which Morocco is a proud member,” the chief diplomats argued.

Faced with a severe drought and a global food crisis, Morocco has been under pressure, as it navigates new markets to diversify its wheat imports from countries such as India and France.

Yet, India’s recent ban on wheat exports to meet domestic demands and the recent heatwaves in France have left Morocco with fewer options.