Wow.
Okay, yes I was referencing American land suitable for growing wheat because as an American that’s the geography I’m most familiar with. Keep in mind we’re talking specifically from an agricultural standpoint. That means agricultural policy. I know Canada grows wheat, but I can’t speak to their policy or their trade situation. So I stuck with what I do know, as an example and as a sample.
Using one’s own country as a sample does not in any way negate the fact that wheat can be and is grown in other countries. Or that other countries won’t face challenges because they cannot grow wheat.
In fact, I specifically said that if America converted it’s subsidized corn production to wheat we would have enough for us WITH SURPLUS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES (WHO CANNOT GROW WHEAT).
I’m aware that Norway is subarctic, thanks. If I had to guess, I’d say your major agricultural export is fish. I do know your major export overall is oil. To be frank, I find your position to be as asinine as suggesting that Norway should be coerced into ceding land to Russia because not doing so would deprive the world of so much oil and fish. You might want to have a hard think on that because you’re a neighbor of an "empire" with desirable resources and we are entering an age of resource wars. Would you want to be pressured or coerced? If you cede, you lose the revenue of those resources. How will you care for your population or are you content to become beggars? And why would you throw Ukraine under the bus like that?
Ukraine does not owe the world its resources any more or less than any other nation. Colonial thinking needs to go the way of the Dodo. And yes, obviously, that includes places like India and Africa.
Further, just because wheat is the staple of western diets doesn’t mean it has to be. We could eat less wheat and more of something else, like potatoes, for example. India could amp up their production of potatoes; they’re a top 5 producer. Africa can amp up production of yams and sweet potatoes. There’s not a country in this world that can not work to help fill the wheat void in some capacity. Countries like Norway that cannot grow enough to sustain their populations are already feeding their citizens through trade. They need to alter/expand their trade avenues and treaties, not coerce other nations into poverty and helplessness.
What Ukraine chooses to do is up to Ukraine. I doubt they appreciate the offerings of “table discussion" from NATO countries after being denied protection via membership and being jerked around for years about it OR Americans after Trump holding promised aid hostage and political grandstanding from Biden.
We lost any right or ground to think we have a say. They know their options and they know the consequences. They’re not stupid.
Ukraine’s fate is in the hands of Ukraine and Ukraine alone.
If the rest of us go hungry, that’s on us because we never had to. We had and have options, collectively to cover the shortage of wheat. It’s not like we didn’t know this invasion was coming well before planting season.
