President Lukashenko Assures Belarus Open to Venezuelan Leader Maduro

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. (Wikimedia Commons/Совет Федерации)

JAKARTA - President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with the US media Newsmax on Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is welcome to come to Belarus if he leaves his post, but no such discussions have been held with him.

High tensions exist between the US government and Venezuela, with a large-scale US military buildup in the southern Caribbean, US attacks on ships suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and comments from President Donald Trump that ground operations may begin soon in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government said the Uncle Sam's country was trying to carry out a regime change to take over the country's huge oil reserves.

In his interview with Newsmax, President Lukashenko said Belarus and Venezuela have a long-standing relationship. And, Maduro is welcome to come to Minsk if he wants.

"Maduro has never been an enemy or opponent for us. If he wants to come to Belarus, the door is open for him," President Lukashenko said in an interview excerpt posted on the Pul Pervogo Telegram channel associated with the presidential administration, reported Al Arabiya from Reuters (16/12).

"But let me say honestly, this has never been discussed. Maduro is not the type of person who goes or flees. He is a tough guy," he said.

President Lukashenko said. he would be happy to discuss the Venezuela issue - and other issues in talks with President Trump.

"I am absolutely convinced that all problems, all the desires of the United States can be solved today in a peaceful way," explained President Lukashenko.

"I think in the near future we will be able to discuss this issue with (President) Donald Trump. I will say a lot of interesting things to him. War will not produce anything," he concluded.

The war with Venezuela, said President Lukashenko, would be the same as "the second Vietnam. Do you need it? No. So there is no need to fight. You can reach an agreement."

The Belarusian leader said the conflict with Venezuela would only result in Venezuelans uniting in support of President Maduro.

He described the Venezuelan leader as "a good and reasonable person with whom you can reach an agreement" and he doubted Trump's statement about the entry of large amounts of drugs from Venezuela.

English:

"Belarus is leading the war against the drug trade from Asia to Western Europe," he said, but he is no longer willing to protect Europe if the bloc tightens sanctions imposed over human rights issues and Minsk's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

"They strangled me and I was supposed to protect them from drugs?" he said.

"The same applies to you - you should not strangle Venezuela. You have to find a compromise. I don't believe that a large amount of drugs entering the United States comes from Venezuela. I don't believe Trump in this regard. Maduro is not a drug addict. That's what I know for sure," he concluded.