Situation:
As COVID-19 has spread to 148 countries, more and more states across the globe are sealing their borders and restricting international travel. For American tourists, dual-citizens, and traders, this has caused great concern, as their means of return to the United States have evaporated in a relatively short period of time. Although the Department of State has brought nearly 9,000 people home since the start of the pandemic, more than 50,000 US citizens remain stranded abroad.
What It Means:
To add onto an already complex and stressful situation, the Administration must now tackle the issue of Americans being stranded abroad. As more and more commercial international flights are canceled, the United States military will most likely take on a larger roll in transporting citizens back home. This will place a temporary strain on the Air Force's transportation units, although they will quickly adapt and stand ready to handle the surge.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.
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