Aliaksandr Lukashenka has congratulated Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez on Independence Day. In his message, he described the holiday as the “embodiment of the courage” of Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Miranda, and also mentioned Hugo Chávez, whom he called his “friend and like-minded ally.”
According to Lukashenka, the Venezuelan people are now facing a new and unprecedented form of aggression that has no justification. He referred to the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces earlier this year.
“Nevertheless, the tragic events of January did not break the spirit of the Venezuelan people and demonstrated the price at which the country’s sovereignty and its right to determine its own destiny are defended,” the presidential press service quoted him as saying.
Lukashenka said Belarus was the first country to support Venezuela during that period.
“We welcome the consistent efforts of the government under your leadership to preserve peace, constitutional order, and secure the swift return home of President Nicolás Maduro Moros and his wife Cilia Flores,” he said.
Lukashenka expressed confidence that Venezuela, under Rodríguez Gómez’s leadership, would continue to “defend its national interests,” and said Belarusian-Venezuelan relations remain resilient and focused on strengthening strategic cooperation.
“Despite turbulence in the international arena, Belarusian-Venezuelan relations continue to demonstrate ideological resilience and a commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation in numerous areas of mutual interest based on the traditional principles of respect, solidarity, and sound pragmatism. Caracas can always count on Minsk as a reliable partner and consistent ally, ready to further deepen constructive dialogue in both bilateral and multilateral formats,” he said.
Lukashenka wished Rodríguez Gómez “good health, boundless energy, and every success in her responsible public service, and wished the Venezuelan people unity and prosperity.”