Eric Farnsworth on American Diplomat: Latin America's Role in Russia's Ukraine Invasion
Eric Farnsworth on American Diplomat: Latin America's Role in Russia's Ukraine Invasion
"[Some] democratic countries in Latin America have not necessarily come out in full-throated support of the Ukrainian people," said the AS/COA vice president.
AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth spoke to Pete Romero and Laura Bennett on the American Diplomat podcast about Latin America's response to Russia invading Ukraine.
"We have had some leaders make the 'right noises' to condemn Russia's blatant aggression on Ukraine. Then, we have had some leaders, notably from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua who have actually aligned themselves in support of Moscow," said Farnsworth. "What the more disappointing view is that large, important, strategically important longstanding democratic countries in Latin America have not necessarily come out in full-throated support of the Ukrainian people."
Farnsworth said that some leaders in the region "are dealing with publics who are questioning whether this is a fight that Latin America should be involved in."
"Absolutely it is. It's about democracy, it's about non aggression, it's about freedom of people, but you have this debate, 'What is Ukraine to Latin America? Why should my country take a difficult position politically when all it's going to do is hurt us. It's not our fight.' And that's the view that I think is so harmful," said Farnsworth. "It removes Latin America from global relevance. People just overlook them at that point."
