(Newswire.net — March 26, 2020) — In a shameful abdication of responsibility, fellow countries from the European Union have failed to give medical assistance and supplies to Italy during the outbreak, but China and Russia are filling the void, Foreignpolicy.com reports.
The COVID-19 epidemic is changing the image of Italy’s allies, western media reports amid the worst crisis that struck Italy since WWII.
After the Second World War, Americans helped Italy to recover, and today, the country is being aided by the Chinese, Russians, and Cubans.
In addition to the Italian flag, the Chinese flag is also waving in the Lombardia province in northern Italy. Besides Chinese flags, there are also Russian ones because significant help from Russia has recently arrived: doctors, respirators and all that is needed for Italy to cope with the epidemic.
In fact, never in history have so many Russian planes have landed in a country that has NATO bases, Italian media reported.
There are also Cubans who brought 37 doctors and 15 medical workers to Italy to help the hospitals. They are led by Dr. Carlos Perez Diaz, director of the Joaquin Albarran Hospital in Havana.
Italy’s foreign minister Luigi Di Maio says he will forever remember who helped Italy today. He said that many foreign ministers offered their solidarity but “the first aid arrived from China.”
“The coronavirus crisis is similar to the refugee crisis: Countries that are not immediately affected are mostly not willing to help,” Italy’s permanent representative to the EU, Maurizio Massari told Foreignpolicy’s reporter. “Different countries obviously have different threat perceptions. We [Italy] feel that the coronavirus is a global and European threat that needs a European response, but other countries don’t see it that way.”
The international political game will change after this virus subsides, experts agree.
“We are doing instead of talking. We are friends, not the enemy. Could the Americans do the same to Chinese?” China’s embassy to South Africa tweeted on Monday.