Diplomat: Venezuela and Iran crises further fracture "axis of evil" unity
This opinion was expressed by Andriy Veselovsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, advisor to the director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, in a comment to Ukrinform.
The diplomat noted that when it comes to the so-called "axis of evil", Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea are usually meant. According to him, some also add China, but in his opinion, this is “not entirely correct.”
Veselovsky noted that there has never been a formal agreement or real coordination of efforts between these countries. In this context, he recalled that, for example, Venezuela and Iran cooperated primarily in oil trade to balance prices. Russia sought to play the role of “senior” among the countries of the so-called "axis of evil", but could not do so permanently due to its limited ability to influence their foreign policy.
"Thus, unity within this so-called ‘axis’ has weakened, primarily due to the loss of relatively independent state governance in Venezuela and now in Iran. North Korea remains ‘in the shadow’, although its cooperation with Russia continues. So the ‘axis of evil’ does not exist today in the form in which it was imagined. At the same time, this definition was a certain exaggeration even before," Veselovsky said.
Commenting on the possibility of further situational cooperation between these countries, the diplomat noted that much will depend on who rules Venezuela and what the Iranian government will be like after the war ends.
In his opinion, China should be left “outside the axis of evil” because it “does not help anyone within the framework of its allied commitments and distances itself from everyone.”
"China is an important customer and supplier for many countries. However, its trade and political ties with these countries have always been one-sided. Beijing could manipulate them, while their influence on China remained minimal," Veselovsky explained.
He added that Russia currently has the greatest influence over China as a buyer of certain goods. At the same time, the volume of products that Beijing sells to Moscow is not critical for the Chinese economy and can be quickly reduced.
Another country that exerted some influence on China was Iran, as a supplier of oil that was cheaper than in other markets. However, according to the diplomat, China's financial reserves are so significant that even the cessation of such supplies will not have any tangible consequences for it.
As reported by Ukrinform, on February 28, the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iranian regime targets. Iran then attacked US bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan.
As reported, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was detained by fighters from the US Army's elite Delta Force special operations unit.
President Donald Trump has stated that following the removal of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the United States is now in control of Venezuela.
Photo: NV
