| Czech Republic has been doing something similar since about March 19. to get emergency medical supplies (mostly personal protective equipment for medical personel) quickly from China: https://news.expats.cz/weekly-czech-news/ukrainian-plane-to-... https://www.nspa.nato.int/en/news/news-20200319-7.htm https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/03/20/world/europe/20re... It's using the An-124 cargo planes (100+ ton capacity) via the NATO SALIS partnership (2 planes on long term lease from Ukraine stationed in Leipzig) as well as regular cargo flights, comandeared airliners with boxes on seats an even the few (2?) small airliners owned by the state/army, normally used for officially duties. Apparently even some of the repatriation flights have been used to bring back supplies when possible. Also some of this material (I suspect where there is sufficient stock for local use available) is now being sent to Spain and Itally, where it is sorely needed: https://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/coronavirus-czech-state... https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_174623.htm In any case, USA using airlift to get critical supplies is certainly a good sign! But I'm confused why only now ? It has been clear for at least a month bad things might happen, so why not stock up at least a bit beforehand ? |