MINSK, November 3. /TASS/. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko called the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a disgrace.
"Meanwhile, the redrawing of the world order continues right before our eyes. The main reason for this, to be honest, is the struggle for resources and irresponsible competition. Thanks to [US President Donald] Trump for clearly showing us this. Look at Venezuela, I mean, the abduction of President Maduro. Why does anyone need oil? There really are large reserves there. I could tell you a lot about Venezuela. Even before the Venezuelan president was abducted, I was involved in this process at the instigation of the Americans themselves. It would have been possible to resolve all the problems in the modern world, including those related to oil, without all this nonsense and without the disgraceful abduction of the president," he said at the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security.
On January 3, the US launched strikes on civilian and military targets in Venezuela, captured the country’s president and his wife, and transported them out of the country. US forces have since faced legal action in American courts, where Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges. Delcy Rodriguez, who served as executive vice president under Maduro, is currently acting as head of state in Venezuela. Trump stated that the US would assume temporary control of Venezuela.