Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed several pressing international issues during an awards ceremony in Minsk. His most striking remarks concerned the situation around Venezuela, specifically the forced extradition of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to the USA, as well as the future course of events. BelTA brings together all the Belarusian leader’s remarks on the matter.
Speaking about Venezuela, the president emphasized that the friendly people of that country once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Belarus. “If someone has forgotten, I have not. And to some extent, I would not say they saved our country but they strongly supported us. In the time of [former Venezuela President Hugo] Chavez, when they worked together with Nicolas Maduro. I visited there often, knew them both,” the head of state said.
On the causes and consequences of the U.S. operation
“A short while ago I said that if the Americans wanted a second Vietnam, they would get it. However the situation develops, I believe they heard this. And now they are threatening Venezuela with some kind of ground operation. I think they fully understand that such an operation will not end in their favor. Thousands will die, including Americans. I believe neither Donald nor others want this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“But you must clearly understand: the USA is a very complicated country. It is not like ours, not even like Russia or other countries. I think this is most likely a concession by Donald Trump to the military. Remember how they fled from Afghanistan, how people were clinging to the landing gear of airplanes, falling on the runway? A disgrace. They needed to show that they are capable of something,” the Belarusian leader said.
