Boris Johnson’s Absurd Plan ⁤to ‌Seize Corona Vaccines

During the corona pandemic, many people ​had ‌unusual ideas, but Boris ‌Johnson’s plan was particularly absurd.

A Military Operation in the Netherlands

In spring 2021, Boris Johnson considered a military operation in the Netherlands to ​seize​ corona vaccines, ⁢as reported by the Guardian, citing ⁢Johnson’s memoirs. ⁣The target was a ⁢warehouse in Leiden housing around five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Britain’s Claim to the Vaccines

Johnson believed Britain had a right to the vaccines since they were developed there. At the time,​ the EU and Great Britain were arguing over the export of corona vaccines. Lieutenant Doug Chalmers, the deputy chief of the defense staff, confirmed to the prime minister that such an operation was ‌”certainly feasible.”

The ⁤Plan’s Details

The plan involved using inflatable boats to cross ⁢the​ sea. Soldiers would enter the resort, ⁢secure the vaccines, and take them to the canal ports. However, Chalmers ⁣pointed out that carrying out the mission undetected would be difficult. If discovered, Johnson would have ‌had to ⁢explain to Britain’s⁢ allies why ⁢they were invading a long-standing NATO ally.

Abandoning the Plan

Ultimately, ‌Johnson admitted that ⁣the ​plan ‍was⁤ insane. He acknowledged that Chalmers ⁤was right, and the EU’s threats of export bans further fueled the dispute over vaccine delivery.