The Effect of the Russo-Ukrainian War on Guam
By: Brandon Dawson
Despite the war in Ukraine being roughly 10,000 kilometers away from Guam, there are still measurable impacts. When gas prices surged earlier this year, it hurt Guam especially bad. Gas was already expensive since it had to be shipped from somewhere else. Additionally, rising fuel prices increased the prices of airline tickets. This in combination with the destabilization of some east Asian economies led to a marked decreased in tourists coming to visit Guam. Guam’s biggest industry is tourism and air transportation, so there were fears that this could significantly harm the small island. However, Guam has since recovered, with more tourists from China and Japan coming en masse.
Russian refugees in Guam Protest the ongoing war
In May of this year in Guam, there has been an organized effort to gather supplies for war refugees and transport them to Poland so that they can help people who need them. Guam is a territory of the United States, and the United States has issued heavy sanctions against Russia, as well as supplying Ukraine with arms. Many countries around the world have issued sanctions against Russia, resulting in the Russian economy crashing. While the sanctions haven’t stopped the invasion of Ukraine, the looming threat of NATO intervention, headed by the US most likely curbs Russia’s enthusiasm.