Opinion: Belarus-Venezuela political relations remain strategically important
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has invited Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to Belarus, and also did not rule out the possibility of his visit to Venezuela. In his talk with SB TV and Alfa Radio, a deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Aleksandr Shpakovsky, commented on the relations developing between the two countries.
The deputy noted that Venezuela is a long-time friend of Belarus, “It does not matter for political relations between our countries that sometime during the reign of Hugo Chavez, also a sincere friend of Belarus, our economic projects reached a strategic level. The trade turnover then reached $1bn, despite the geographical remoteness, difficulties in logistics, and financial transactions. At present, we cannot boast of such economic indicators due to the crisis in Venezuela and a number of other features of our economic relations, but our political relations were and still are strategically significant, allied, and fraternal. Venezuela can always count on our support, and we demonstrate the latter at the political level: i.e. when our friends expected us to make declarative statements. International solidarity is very important, and Caracas can always count on it.”
Mr. Shpakovsky added that Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Minister recently met with the Belarusian international affairs commission, “Those were constructive negotiations, and we are well aware of the situation in the Caribbean, where the situation is really very tense, where significant US forces and means are concentrated. The fight against drug trafficking here, I would say, is a formal reason, since the United States does not conduct any interaction with the official authorities of Venezuela and the anti-drug units of this country. Unsubstantiated accusations are being made against the state’s leadership. In general, there is an opinion that the US administration is trying to regain control of the western hemisphere, and – to do this – it is necessary to suppress the socialist countries in Latin America, which are primarily Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.”
The expert also noted that the internal situation in Venezuela is quite complicated, “The country is experiencing an economic crisis, with sanctions against its oil industry being one of the reasons. When the main Venezuelan export product cannot be sold in foreign markets, the country is limited in its capabilities, actually.”
Mr. Shpakovsky continued, “By stating that he is personally ready to make a state visit to Venezuela, the President once again demonstrates his personal qualities: courage. That's what distinguishes Aleksandr Lukashenko. He went to Belgrade in 1999 while NATO bombs were in the airspace, and our Serbian brothers still remember this. Of course, we are always ready to welcome President Nicolas Maduro in Minsk. Such agreements exist. I am sure that we have certain opportunities to restart Belarusian-Venezuelan relations, including in trade and economic terms.”
