BRUSSELS — The United States is trying to prevent Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Belarusian flag carrier Belavia from opening the floodgate for crucial aviation spare parts to reach Russia’s airlines.
Although it will allow parts to be sold to Belavia, Washington is trying to block the carrier from flying to Russia — although such a limit may not be effective.
The U.S.-Belarus deal was finalized Sept. 11 following the release of 52 political prisoners who had been detained by Minsk.
The day after the announcement, however, the U.S. Department of Commerce wrote to Igor Nikolaevich Cherginets, the general director of Belavia, spelling out the conditions for regaining access to spare parts for its fleet of 16 aircraft, nine of which are Boeings.
“This authorization does not permit flights to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, the Temporarily Occupied Crimea Region of Ukraine or the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic or Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine,” said the document, referring to the export of spare parts.
The Belarusian airline did not immediately respond to a request for information from POLITICO regarding whether it will stop operating routes to and from Russia.
However, on Sept. 15 Belavia announced a 50 percent discount on flights to St. Petersburg.
The U.S. prohibition “is a pro forma note. There is no way to check what happens in [the] Russia+ customs union of which Belarus is a part,” said Elina Ribakova, leader of the international program at the Kyiv School of Economics and a fellow at the Brussels-based Bruegel think tank.
“I see Belarus and Russia as fully cooperating states with fully porous borders,” she added.
The risk that aircraft components manufactured in the U.S. might end up in the hands of Russian airlines — which are in dire need of maintenance and replacement parts following over three years of Western sanctions — has surged since Belarus announced that Washington was loosening sanctions on its flag carrier.
EU-US rift
The U.S. decision has also created a potential rift with the European Union.
Financial Services Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque recently recalled that “EU sanctions on Belarus prohibit EU operators from providing services, like maintenance, and from making any other economic resources available to listed persons or entities, including Belavia.”
EU countries “are responsible for implementation and enforcement of EU sanctions, including conducting investigations into potential non-compliance cases, including for sanctions circumvention,” Albuquerque added.
The discrepancy between European and American sanctions on Belavia raises questions as to whether EU countries should prevent U.S. spare parts from transiting through their territory en route to Belarus.
The European Commission did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.
According to Ribakova, EU countries “definitely could” stop aircraft technology destined for Belavia, but “the issue is how to identify the shipment.”
U.S.-made aircraft technology “might be stopping over in Brussels in the direction of Moldova, but in reality goes somewhere else.”
She also warned that the various national authorities responsible for enforcing sanctions could treat such shipments differently.
Boycott risk
Ultimately, it will be up to U.S. manufacturers, including Boeing, to decide whether to sell their products to Belavia.
Both Boeing and Airbus were asked if they would resume selling parts to the Belarusian carrier.
Airbus, which has production facilities in the U.S., responded by saying the company is “committed to conducting its business ethically and in full compliance with all applicable international laws and sanctions.”
“As a global company with operations in Europe and the United States, Airbus adheres to the export control regulations and sanctions regimes of the EU, its Member States, the United States and other relevant jurisdictions,” it added, guaranteeing “a thorough review” before each transaction.
Boeing did not respond to a request for comment.
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