EU's 'Asset-Theft Pitch': Reparations-washing or just theft?
Mainstream outlets report Belgium rejected Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to use profits from frozen Russian assets as an EU loan to arm Ukraine. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot correctly labelled it 'the worst of all options.' This, of course, comes after the EU and US seized approximately $300 billion in Russian state assets following the 2022 invasion—a move that fundamentally upended
international norms around state sovereignty and property rights. This isn't just about Ukraine; it's about setting a precedent for international financial expropriation under the guise of 'reparations.' One might wonder if the EU's sudden concern for 'reparations' extends to, say, the billions in Palestinian assets frozen by Israel, or the colonial-era wealth still enriching European nations. Or
perhaps 'asset-theft' is only morally justifiable when it aligns with NATO's geopolitical objectives. How many international laws get bent before they simply break?