Friday evening, a statement went out from Canada and some twenty-one other allied governments about the situation in Venezuela. This after a couple of weeks of certain Conservative MPs and some of the Elder Pundits of this country having meltdowns that we haven’t issued immediate condemnations of the stolen election or demands that the opposition leader be recognized as the winner by Canada (and Conservatives currently feel motivated on this file because Pierre Poilievre’s wife is originally from Venezuela).
Joint statement from Canada and 21 other allies regarding Venezuela: pic.twitter.com/yxhd0NqhuB
— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) August 16, 2024
Lo and behold, Canada was working in concert with allies both in the region and abroad to ensure that there is a common voice when it comes to calling on support for democracy and human rights in Venezuela, particularly because Nicholas Maduro has been cracking down on protesters and arresting them, no doubt with the support of his Autocracy Inc. fellows, who have helped the country evade sanctions up to this point. Having coordinated responses with like-minded allies is a very important thing, and should not be underestimated.
And because this is currently an Anne Applebaum fan account, let me point to her most recent book, Autocracy Inc.,which includes a large section on Venezuela, how Chavez turned it into a kleptocracy under the guise of “Bolivarian socialism,” how other autocratic nations have allowed it to evade sanctions regimes (though it seems that China has been a bit burned by the very same kleptocrats that have bankrupted the country), and how the democratic opposition has been building support in that country in spite of the Maduro regime. It’s a great read, and I would highly encourage you to check it out (while we’ve still got some summer left).
Ukraine Dispatch
Ukraine’s air force downed five Russian drones overnight Thursday, while Ukrainian authorities are urging civilians to evacuate from Pokrovsk before Russians arrive in the area. Advances continue in the Kursk region, in the hopes of convincing Putin to start “fair” peace talks. Reporters who have visit the Kursk region under Ukraine’s control finds that there is a trial of destruction in their wake. Here’s a look at how vigilant Ukrainian society has become around allegations of corruption, in this case around reconstruction of the damaged children’s hospital.
⚡️Russia not ready for Kursk Oblast counteroffensive, Estonian official says.
"There are no indications yet that the Russian Armed Forces have enough forces and areas to deploy such significant actions," Lieutenant Colonel Mattias Puusepp said.https://t.co/2Ja6G1l9ru
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 17, 2024
The stunning operation, conducted by Ukraine’s Armed Forces, amounts to the first ground invasion by a foreign power of Russian territory since World War II and one of the biggest challenges to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.https://t.co/tRbBl4g7ZQ
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 16, 2024