Russia is an invited guest at the Alba Games in Venezuela. Venezuela is a close ally of Russia and opposes the West.
Sakari Lund,
Mika Halonen
The Alba Games sporting event is currently underway in Venezuela. The event has not been well known in Finland and even now the news is related to the fact that Russia is participating in the games as an invited guest.
Russia is banned from most international sports competitions, but the situation is different in Venezuela. Russian flags flew and the athletes wore their national emblems openly at the opening of the Games.
There are 48 Russian athletes who compete in, among other things, boxing, beach volleyball, karate, table tennis, trampoline, weightlifting and rhythmic gymnastics.
– It is no wonder that Russian athletes have been welcomed to Venezuela. Venezuela is a close ally of Russia. Venezuela also has a regime comparable to a dictatorship and millions of people have fled the country. That’s why the president Nicolas Maduro Venezuela has been subject to US sanctions and received help from Russia. Now solidarity goes in the other direction, ‘s assistant Maija Salmi opened the situation from Uruguay.
– The games are a very clear and provocative indication that Venezuela has chosen its side. It is loyal to Russia and opposes the West and especially the United States, Salmi summarized.
The economic situation in Venezuela is difficult.
– The situation is extremely difficult. The economy is dollarized, but the minimum wage in Venezuelan bolivares is less than five dollars a month.
There are other countries that support Russia in Latin America, and elsewhere in the region, Russia is not necessarily considered the only one to blame for the war in Ukraine.
– In addition to Venezuela, countries that are friendly to Russia are Cuba and Nicaragua, partly also Bolivia. President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has stated that there are several people to blame for the war in Ukraine, the West also has its responsibility, Salmi said.
Historical and geographical reasons also affect people’s attitude.
– Here in Uruguay, the official line is that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is condemned. However, there are many people who think that Russia did wrong when it attacked Ukraine, but the West also has a hand in the game, Salmi stated.
– It is largely due to history. There have been many military dictatorships here supported by the United States. It is therefore difficult for people to go to the US or the West. On the other hand, the war is far away. It doesn’t come on people’s skin in the same way as in Finland.