Belarus, Greece: Maduro's Surprising Allies?

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has stated that the EU does not want Belarus to become a second Ukraine, and that it is necessary to deal with President Alexander Lukashenko, despite not recognising him as a legitimate leader. Similarly, the EU does not recognise Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader, but Greece has expressed support for Maduro, with the ruling party SYRIZA declaring full support and solidarity for the Venezuelan president. This support has been criticised as shameful by some, who point to Greece's history of military rule and the parallels between Maduro's regime and a dictatorship.

Greece's ruling party, SYRIZA, expressed support for Maduro

Greece's ruling party, SYRIZA, expressed support for Venezuela's Maduro in January 2019. Panos Skourletis, the secretary of SYRIZA's central committee, affirmed the party's position, stating:

> SYRIZA expresses its full support and solidarity with the legitimate president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, after yesterday's move by opposition leader and president of the National Assembly of the country, Juan Guaido, to declare himself the interim president of the country, thus challenging the result of last May's presidential election.

This statement came following a meeting with Venezuela's Ambassador to Greece, Farid Fernandez, and amidst anti-government demonstrations in Venezuela, which resulted in the deaths of at least seven protesters. SYRIZA's support for Maduro is notable as Greece is one of the few major parties in Europe with a favourable view of the Venezuelan leader and his "Chavista" government.

The United States and ten other countries recognised Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president, with US President Donald Trump escalating tensions by officially recognising Guaido as the country's interim president. This prompted Maduro to sever diplomatic relations with Washington and expel US diplomats from Venezuela.

SYRIZA's support for Maduro has been criticised by some, including former British minister Denis MacShane, who wrote that it "ignores the painful history of Greek military rule" and that Greece was "sending a message of support and endorsement to a foul, corrupt, military-backed dictatorship in Venezuela."

Greece's neighbour Turkey also supported Maduro

Greece's neighbour, Turkey, has been one of the staunchest supporters of Maduro's regime in Venezuela. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his support for Maduro, urging him to "stand tall" in the face of national and international calls for his removal. Erdogan's encouragement came in response to US President Donald Trump's recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as the interim president.

Maduro's opponents criticise him for undermining democracy, overseeing skyrocketing inflation, a collapsing economy, and widespread shortages of basic goods. However, Erdogan has maintained a strong relationship with Maduro, which has raised eyebrows internationally. The two leaders come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, with Erdogan being religiously conservative and Maduro being left-wing. Despite this, Erdogan has pledged support for Maduro, possibly due to their shared experience of surviving coup attempts and facing criticism from the EU and USA.

Turkey's backing of Maduro extends beyond words. Turkish Airlines continues to operate daily flights to Caracas, even as many other international carriers have ceased services. Additionally, Turkish companies have invested over $4.5 billion in Venezuela, and the country has an agreement to process tons of Venezuelan gold, potentially helping Maduro's government circumvent US sanctions.

Turkey's support for Maduro is not just a stance taken by Erdogan but is also reflected in the country's media and public opinion. Turkish media has strongly backed Maduro, accusing Washington of attempting a coup in Venezuela. The social media hashtag #WeAreMaduro trended in Turkey, with many Turks expressing solidarity with Maduro and criticising US intervention.

Analysts suggest that Erdogan's support for Maduro plays well domestically, especially with upcoming local elections. Additionally, standing up to "American imperialism" resonates with both his supporters and secular critics. However, some believe that Turkey's support will remain rhetorical and symbolic, as the country lacks the capacity to provide substantial assistance to Venezuela.

Belarus' Lukashenko and Venezuela's Maduro share an unwavering desire to cling to power

Belarus's Lukashenko and Venezuela's Maduro share an unwavering desire to cling to power at all costs and a visceral disdain for the West. Both leaders have been accused of election fraud and have responded to opposition with harsh repression.

In Belarus, Lukashenko swiftly moved to control the institutions, the economy, and the police after taking office in 1994. He purged military leaders, set up a Security Council packed with loyalists, and doubled the security budget. By 1996, he held nearly absolute power, altering the constitution and filling parliament with his allies. He has maintained his grip on power through harsh repression of any opposition, with mass arrests, torture, and the mysterious disappearance of dissidents.

Similarly, in Venezuela, Maduro has repressed a vocal opposition movement. After the 2024 elections, the opposition leader, Edmundo González, faced blackmail and threats and was forced into exile. Maduro's regime has been characterised by state terrorism, systematic human rights violations, and economic mismanagement, leading to hyperinflation, price controls, and expropriations.

Both leaders have centralised economic power to maintain control. Lukashenko halted the privatisation of Belarus's industrial sector, preventing the rise of independent oligarchs. In Venezuela, Maduro has dismantled private enterprise, consolidating economic power in the state.

The international community, including the European Union, has largely rejected Lukashenko and Maduro as illegitimate leaders. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has stated that the EU does not recognise the legitimacy of their elections. However, despite the international condemnation, both leaders remain in power and continue to exert control over their respective governments.

Greece's endorsement of Maduro is comparable to its endorsement of the dictatorship of the Greek colonels of 1967-74

In the case of Maduro, his regime has been described as a "dictatorship run by a group that has taken control of the state for its own personal benefit". Similarly, the Greek colonels' regime was marked by anti-communist policies and the suppression of political freedoms, with thousands of suspected communists and political opponents imprisoned, tortured, or exiled.

The Greek junta of 1967-74 was established through a military coup, led by a group of right-wing army officers. The coup leaders quickly consolidated power by seizing strategic locations in Athens, arresting leading politicians, and suspending key articles of the Greek constitution. This allowed them to rule by decree and suppress any dissent.

Maduro's rise to power also involved disputed election results and the suppression of opposition figures. Similar to the Greek colonels, Maduro has been accused of exploiting his position for personal gain and consolidating power through authoritarian means.

In both cases, the international community has largely condemned the actions of these regimes. The European left, in particular, has criticised Greece's endorsement of Maduro, as it contradicts the country's tradition of solidarity with democracy and human rights. This is especially notable given Greece's own history of struggling against right-wing dictatorship during the rule of the Greek colonels.

The comparison between Greece's endorsement of Maduro and its endorsement of the dictatorship of the Greek colonels highlights a troubling pattern of supporting authoritarian regimes that prioritise personal gain over the well-being of their citizens.

Maduro and Lukashenko are in the same situation of being recognised as illegitimate by the EU

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro have both been deemed illegitimate by the EU.

In 2020, Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term as president of Belarus. The ceremony was low-key and unannounced, taking place amidst mass protests over the disputed election results. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, stated that the EU did not recognise the "falsified results" of the election, and that the "so-called 'inauguration'...and the new mandate claimed by Aleksandr Lukashenko lack any democratic legitimacy." The EU also called on Belarus to refrain from further repression and to release all detainees, supporting the "democratic right [of the Belarusian people] to elect their President through new free and fair elections."

Similarly, in 2019, the EU recognised Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela after a deadline for Maduro to call presidential elections expired. The UK, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark were among the countries that recognised Guaidó as the interim president. Maduro was deemed illegitimate by the EU, with the UK foreign secretary stating that the "oppression of the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime must end."

Both Lukashenko and Maduro have been accused of freezing their countries' development, hijacking entire societies, and justifying state terrorism. Lukashenko and Maduro have centralised economic and political power, purging opposition leaders and filling parliament with their allies. Lukashenko and Maduro also share a visceral disdain for the West, despite their differing ideologies and worldviews.

In Belarus, young activists played a key role in exposing electoral fraud, but had to flee the country following the crackdown on protests. A similar situation occurred in Venezuela, where activists who rallied around the 2024 elections sought political space. However, without real change, these spaces could disappear entirely.

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