Washington’s refusal to recognize Venezuela’s leadership harms American interests, the Belarusian president has argued
The United States is in no position to lecture other countries about elections after the controversial victory of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said.
In an interview with the US network Newsmax, excerpts of which were previewed by Belarusian media on Tuesday, Lukashenko commented on Washington’s strained relations with Caracas, including its refusal to recognize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the country’s legitimate leader.
“Americans are in no position to count votes in Venezuela,” Lukashenko said. “Do you remember how Trump was shoved [aside], as they say, during the previous [2020] election?”
The Belarusian leader backed US President Donald Trump’s long-standing claim that his re-election was “stolen,” describing the process that brought Biden to power as “100% rigged.” Trump’s attempts to prove his case in US courts have failed.
“And with baggage like that the Americans are refusing to recognize elections in Venezuela, Belarus, or some other place? God bless you,” he added.
Lukashenko urged the Trump administration to pursue dialogue with the Maduro government and warned against any attempt to overthrow it by force. A US invasion of Venezuela would only unite the population around Maduro, he argued, whereas Venezuelan society is currently deeply divided over his leadership. Such an intervention would risk turning into a prolonged conflict comparable to a “second Vietnam,” he warned.
He also criticized US airstrikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, saying that “missiles cannot defeat narcotics.” Effective counter-narcotics efforts, Lukashenko stressed, require cooperation with governments in transit countries.
Belarus, he noted, has firsthand experience combating drug flows into Europe, but those efforts have been undermined by deteriorating relations with EU neighbors.
“If somebody puts a noose on your neck to hang you, will you protect those who seek to execute you? Should I protect Europe? Why?” Lukashenko asked. “You too should not strangle Venezuela. You must find a compromise.”
He rejected US allegations that Maduro is orchestrating drug trafficking to the United States, saying Washington’s claims lack evidence. “What I know for sure is that Maduro is not a junkie,” Lukashenko added.
