“Who Putin these ideas in his head?"
The Russian Internet reacts to Maduro's arrest and what it may mean for Ukraine
President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country during the Washington’s overnight attack on Venezuela on Jan. 3.
Operation Absolute Resolve is the latest escalation following months of U.S. military action targeting Venezuelan vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking. You can read more about the buildup in H2H’s story on Venezuela here.
Now, Maduro and his wife are getting ready to “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” according to Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Meanwhile, the U.S. is to control Venezuela until permanent leaders are found.
A neighboring country, a contested regime, a slow buildup, and a military operation framed as liberation. Sound familiar? Or a better question:
‘Who has been Putin these ideas in his head?’
Russia launched what it called a “special military operation” in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, to “demilitarize” and “denazify” it. Citing NATO expansion close to the borders and the protection of Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine, Moscow invaded.
Unlike the overnight attack on Venezuela, it’s been almost 4 years since the ongoing conflict. Ever since, Russia is scrutinized with political and economic sanctions from most democratic countries in the world as repercussions for aggression on a neighboring country. With Trump’s similar move in Venezuela, what are the global implications of this precedent? Will the U.S. face similar backlash from their democratic allies who condemn invading sovereign countries?
Russia’s stance on Operation Absolute Resolve
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called U.S. actions “an act of armed aggression against Venezuela” and “extremely concerning and deserving of condemnation,” according to the press release on Ministry’s website.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a call with Venezuela’s Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on Jan. 3 to express solidarity and support of Venezuela’s national interests and sovereignty, according to a phone call recapped in the Ministry’s press release.
Other Russian officials weren’t as diplomatic in their statements. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, said it “wouldn’t be a bad idea if…American special forces captured the gang of drug addicts on Bankova Street. Maybe it’s time already, Uncle Sam?” in a conversation with RIA News. Bankova is a street in central Kyiv, which houses the Presidential Office of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested a similar idea but for Putin. who said “If you can do that with dictators,” he said, “then the United States knows what to do next.”
While Russia condemns the U.S. strikes on Venezuela and supports the country’s sovereignty, it proceeds to be in a long-term conflict with Ukraine.
Operation Absolute Resolve vs The People
The public found itself in a confusing position as the U.S. extracted Maduro from Venezuela. On one hand, Venezuelans around the world celebrate the end of long-term dictatorship in their country and thanking Trump for liberation. But Washington’s goals can go way beyond freeing the people and set a hostile precedent that violates the international law.
Current U.S. control of Venezuelan government is a strategic power position. Venezuela, due to the adversary influence of Russia and China, was a possible threat and another potential proxy front for the West and the East conflict.
“We are not going to be able to allow in our hemisphere a country that becomes a crossroads for the activities of all of our adversaries around the world,” said Secretary of State Mark Rubio on Jan. 4 in an NBC interview, “We just can’t allow it.”
In addition to political power, control over Venezuela is a way to fulfill Trump’s December claims on oil rights and land we discussed here. Rubio said that the U.S. wants “Venezuela to move in a certain direction because not only do we think it’s good for the people of Venezuela, it’s in our national interest.”
The heated debate is happening online and on the world stage.
Secretary-General of United Nations, António Guterres, said that U.S. actions in Venezuela have “potential worrying implications for the region” and “constitute a dangerous precedent.” He also expressed a concern for the disrespect of international law, according to the statement issued by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Multiple global leaders shared these concerns. But the U.S. is yet to face any actual repercussions beyond verbal disapproval.
People went on social media to share their thoughts. Some of the most recurring comment themes were colonization, comparison to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Greenland/Canada, and fights whether dictatorship can be a justification for invasion of Venezuela.
The news interestingly unfolded in the Russian-speaking segment of social media. Comments were primarily divided into three groups: expecting repercussions for the U.S., waiting for Trump to liberate Russia next, and comparison of duration between the two operations.
“Or is it different?” is a segment of comments pointing out the double standards. Many people are frustrated at world’s response to the U.S.' invasion of Venezuela. The motives stated by the U.S. official, to prevent adversary influence on a neighboring country and ensure the U.S. national interests, sound particularly familiar to the Russian public. However, we don’t see immediate harsh sanctions for the U.S., compared to the world’s response to invasion of Ukraine.
Part of the users were upset that Trump captured a wrong dictator. Now, they are asking him to do the same with Putin.
And another segment attacked Putin’s competency in war. In the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow claimed that Kyiv will fall in three days. Now, it’s been almost 4 years. But the U.S. managed to capture Maduro and take control of Venezuela overnight.
We’re yet to see if Trump’s actions in Venezuela will impact Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, but there might be an escalation to prove the strength. Russia repeatedly worsen attacks on Ukraine during pivotal moments of the war, such as negotiations and Trump-Zelenskyy summit, in attempts to assert dominance. This time might be no different.
In the future, we will for sure broader implications of Operation Absolute Resolve. For now, both international leaders and the general public are worried about the precedent of power abuse this operation set. Is it okay now to capture other world leaders if their policies don’t align with your country’s national interest? With Trump’s past claims on Canada and Denmark’s Greenland, the world is on the edge of a seat, waiting for what’s next.
Sources: Helmet to Heels, UN News, Axios, Geopolitical Futures, Fox News, Reuters, The Guardian, PBS, AP News