‘Imagine Russia captured Zelensky’: Correa exposes hypocrisy after US kidnaps Maduro
Washington’s abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro set a “disastrous precedent” that can throw the world back into “barbarism,” former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa told RT. The hypocritical international reaction has allowed the US to get away with actions “impossible to accept in the 21st century,” the politician believes.
US special forces conducted airstrikes on the oil-rich South American country and captured Maduro and his wife in an early Saturday raid. They were then flown to the US and charged with drug trafficking – allegations that Maduro has long denied. The Venezuelan president had previously warned that Washington was seeking regime change to get its hands on his country’s natural resources.
“Imagine for a moment that… [Russian President Vladimir] Putin captured [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky,” Correa said. “Can you imagine what the world’s response would be? Nothing like the response the United States is getting.”
According to the former president, international reaction to the abduction has demonstrated nothing but “global hypocrisy” and double standards so far.
“This unprecedented, extraordinary event deserves a much stronger response from the international community,” Correa said, adding that Washington has trampled on international law and brought back the times when might makes right.
“What they’re saying is, either you do what I say or I’ll bomb you again,” Correa said. “It’s something extremely dangerous for the entire planet, not just for Venezuela, not just for Latin America.”
The US operation has been strongly condemned by BRICS members, including Russia, China, Brazil and Iran. Moscow called for Venezuela to be guaranteed the right to determine its own fate. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that Washington’s actions “cross an unacceptable line,” while Beijing called it a “hegemonic act.”
Reactions from the West have been much more muted. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged “restraint,” calling for adherence to the UN Charter. A follow-up joint statement signed by all EU members except Hungary neither condemned nor supported the move.
