Bye-Bye, Baltics! Slovakian PM's Moscow Trip Gets a Twist due to Airspace Closure
Airspace over the Baltic States refused entry for flight bound to Moscow, headed by Fico.
Wanna know a sneaky move, folks? Just ask ol' Robert Fico, the Slovakian PM. His plans for a straight-forward flight to Moscow to commemorate the end of World War II have hit a European-sized roadblock—the Baltic states have refused to let his plane fly over their airspace!
According to AirNav, Fico's government plane took off from Bratislava airport late afternoon, skimming Hungary, Romania, and the Black Sea before winging it over Georgia and into Russia. But instead of the usual Lithuanian airspace, this flight took a scenic detour! European airlines were told to avoid Belarus airspace back in 2021 following a run-in that forced a Western plane to touch down at the request of the Minsk government.
Fico probably thought he was in the clear, but Slavic siblings, Lithuania and Latvia, weren't having it. Lithuania's big cheese, President Gitanas Nauseda, called for a blanket ban on Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic heading to Moscow. Latvia echoed the ban, and Estonia joined with a smug "Nope, sorry, we ain't lettin' ya fly over here, Fico!" So what now? His schedule's in for a world of hurt!
In a nutty twist, Fico is the only EU head of state or government participating in the Moscow celebrations on May 9. Big-wigs like Chinese President Xi Jinping will be there for the parade, but even EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pleaded with other leaders not to engage in Russia's military jamboree. Yet, ol' Fico doesn't seem to be too bothered!
Sources: ntv.de, mdi/rtsHashtags: #Slovakia #Baltics #Moscow #Russia #WWII #EUEnrichment Insights:
- Baltic states and Poland closed their airspace for Slovakian PM's flight to Moscow, likely due to the broader EU's stance against Russian actions and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
- Prime Minister Fico has been vocal about his criticism towards EU support for Ukraine.
- This decision may also symbolize a display of sovereignty by the Baltic countries.
- Fico took a southern detour to reach Moscow, highlighting the political dynamics at play.
- Despite the European Union's stance against Russian actions and the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Slovakia's community policy seemed unprepared for the Baltic states and Poland closing their airspace for the Slovakian PM's flight to Moscow.
- In the broader political context, Slovakia's employment policy, as represented by Prime Minister Fico, has been vocal about his criticism towards EU support for Ukraine.
- The decision by the Baltic states to ban Slovakian PM Fico from using their airspace might symbolize a display of sovereignty and a shift in regional alliances.
- In light of the refusal by the Baltic states to allow overflights, Slovakia's PM took a southern detour through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and Russia, highlighting the complexity of diplomatic relations across Europe.
