Lebanon bans export of local food items to combat shortage triggered by Russian-Ukrainian conflict
March 12, 2022, 3:45 am

Lebanon bans export of local food items to combat shortage triggered by Russian-Ukrainian conflict

Lebanon bans the export of more than 20 food items manufactured in the country as escalating food shortage exacerbated by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict (File photo: Pixabay)

The Xinhua reported, according to a statement by Lebanon's Industry Ministry that Lebanon on Friday banned the export of more than 20 food items manufactured in the country in light of the escalating food shortage exacerbated by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

The statement reads that food items such as meat, processed vegetables and fruits, dairy goods, milled grain products, sugar, bread, coffee beans and tea are all prohibited from being exported.

Producers can only export their products after obtaining a permit from the Industry Ministry, which must be signed exclusively by Industry Minister George Bouchikian.

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According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Trade on Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam have been in contact with several countries since the beginning of March to secure wheat suppliers.

Source: xinhua

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.