When it comes to the US Biden travel ban on Europe and others, is President Biden breaking promises? Not simply about ending it, but at least addressing it. Or making some kind of announcement on it.
For there have been a lot of empty promises – and comments – over the past few weeks. Actually, broken promises and contradictions between words and actions on the travel ban since before Joe Biden came into power.
Let’s look at a timeline of those.
TIMELINE OF EMPTY PROMISES ON US BIDEN TRAVEL BAN
March 13, 2020
It all began with these now-famous words on March 13, 2020.
“A wall will not stop the coronavirus. Banning all travel from Europe — or any other part of the world — will not stop it,” Biden tweeted.
Ok, so as it turns out, walls, lockdowns, travel bans, strict entry tests may have worked. Once upon a time. As blanket responses to COVID. Faced with a no better, more finely tuned response. But Biden sure suggested months before coming to power that the Europe travel ban was somehow pointless. Even if that was not entirely the case, it sure seems so today. And has done so for months. Particularly 4 months after the EU first lifted all restrictions on vacationing Americans.
BIDEN – HOLLOW PROMISES EVEN TO EUROPEAN LEADERS
July 15, 2021
Even when sitting opposite the leader of Europe’s superpower Germany, Biden has not exactly lived up to his words. Actually, he’s failed. In a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in mid-July, President Biden indicated he would be able to make an announcement soon on the fate of the US travel ban for the EU. Which I guess begs the question, what’s his idea of soon? 2023?
When Merkel pressed him on the issue, he said his COVID response team was reviewing the ban and some kind of announcement was forthcoming.
“It’s in process now,” Biden said at the White House. Then added he’d be “able to answer that question … in the next several days.”
Yet here we are, almost two months later. Nothing. Not even a hint for all those broken hearts, broken families, broken lives, on when it might be lifted.
August 5, 2021
Then, in early August, the Biden administration said it was working on a plan to re-open travel to all vaccinated travelers, Reuters reported. Still nothing.
Even in the Machiavellian, mercurial world of politics, it’s hardly surprising that many politicians in Europe are losing their patience with the unfairness of the ongoing US travel ban.
One sign of that may well be the revived EU travel ban on the US. Even if several countries including France, Greece, and Spain are still choosing not to enforce it.
Who knows what’s around the corner.
Patience Thins On Ban That Has “Outlived Its Purposes”
Meanwhile, patience is thinning in Europe. Actually, by concerned parties on both sides of the Atlantic.
In early September, Ireland’s Ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall said the ban on travel from Europe to the US is “damaging relations.” I hazard a guess they have been deeply damaged in fact. On a trust level.
Célia Belin, a visiting fellow in foreign policy at Washington think-tank the Brookings Institution calls it “unremitting bureaucratic purgatory.” For her, it “is cruel and has outlived its purpose.”
Europe Travel Ban: One Of Many Broken Promises?
Clearly, what’s now known as the US Biden travel ban is not the only broken promise. This flies in the face of the findings of one study, that found “promises made were promises kept”. Though I’m sure many would doubt that.
For within days of coming to power, Biden reneged on his promise. Or at least, did a serious backflip on his pre-elected position on the ban. So should we be at all surprised now?
For me, reporting and commenting on this issue since the beginning, in March 2020, it sure seems like empty if not broken promises. Just when will President Biden hear, and respond to, the urgent calls to open those borders now. Let alone to the science.
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