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For months, a joint task force has been studying ways to relax the travel ban.
The work, I am told, has been meticulous and assiduous.
But last Friday in Washington, hardly anyone (not even in the Biden administration) expected today’s announcement. So what has changed?
The Biden administration is aware of growing concern among European allies over a range of issues – particularly Afghanistan, but in recent days, French fury over the Aukus submarine deal.
And remember, France is America’s oldest ally.
This week Joe Biden will meet not only Boris Johnson, but a host of EU leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
And all had on their dance card to lift the travel ban.
According to a diplomatic source, the United States over the weekend just weighed the compensatory forces: annoying some Americans with a policy that could be described as weak on Covid; or continue to alienate your European allies who are becoming more and more irritable.
With the data no longer supporting the ban, this weekend came a decision. Out of the blue in one way, but quite logical in another.
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