Belgium

Belgium is concerned about harming the world-leading Antwerp diamond district. But some countries are losing patience.

In July, the anti-corruption NGO wrote to EU officials urging them to include diamonds in its Russian sanctions regime. But critics say the Kimberley Process fails to address current conflicts, like Russia’s war in Ukraine. Since the late 1990s, Belgium’s diamond industry has been linked to civil war, armed struggle and corruption across Africa. When it comes to Russia, then-Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, now the European Council president, was another advocate for Antwerp’s diamond scene. The result is that Belgium — and its unyielding support of an industry long linked to autocrats, dictators and conflict zones — is once again in an uncomfortable spotlight. Rough Russian diamonds currently account for 30 percent of the global trade in the precious stone. “Are we really going to throw that all away to reward Dubai, which is already opening its doors for Russian oligarchs?” he added. The U.S. And the U.S. Antwerp has, for generations, served as the main hub for diamonds arriving in Europe — including from Russia. And several diplomats said Belgium’s hesitance about a Russian diamond ban is increasingly untenable. It has also expressed concerns that such a move may harm EU economies more than Russia’s purse.