Boris Johnson's bold military plan to reclaim AstraZeneca vaccines from Holland

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the UK, revealed in his memoir that he considered a military operation to seize Covid-19 vaccines from a warehouse in the Netherlands. This plan emerged after months of unsuccessful negotiations with the European Union regarding the release of five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which were allegedly being withheld. Johnson felt that the EU was treating the UK with malice, particularly as the UK was vaccinating its population at a faster rate than many EU countries. In March 2021, he discussed the feasibility of an aquatic raid with senior military officials, who confirmed that it could be technically possible to navigate Dutch canals using rigid inflatable boats to retrieve the vaccines. However, they cautioned that such an operation would be difficult to execute without detection and would raise significant diplomatic concerns, as it would effectively mean invading a NATO ally. Despite the initial enthusiasm for the plan, Johnson ultimately agreed with his advisers that it was impractical and 'nuts.' This episode highlights the desperation and tensions surrounding vaccine distribution during the pandemic, as well as Johnson's controversial leadership style. The memoir also touches on other aspects of his time in office, including his near-fatal experience with Covid-19 and the fallout from the Partygate scandal, which contributed to his political downfall. Johnson's reflections reveal a leader grappling with the consequences of his decisions during one of the UK's most challenging periods. The memoir has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of such military considerations and the broader context of UK-EU relations post-Brexit. Johnson's candid admission of these thoughts illustrates the high stakes involved in vaccine procurement during a global health crisis.