Germany’s 'Freedom' for Me, But Not for Thee
Germany, through its representative Nils Schmid, expressed outrage over Russia's suggestion that Chancellor Friedrich Merz could face a fate similar to that implied for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – a kidnapping. Schmid declared such threats 'unacceptable violations of international law.' This firm stance, however, becomes less about principle and more about selective outrage when
recalling Germany's tacit, and at times active, support for US-led regime change efforts, including those targeting Maduro's government (RT). The 2019 US move to recognize Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader, a clear attempt to destabilize the elected government, was met with quiet alignment from Berlin, not moral condemnation. The hypocrisy deepens when we consider the historical
context. The US, with its European allies often in tow, has a long, documented history of interfering in Latin American sovereignty, from supporting coups to orchestrating kidnappings. Operation CONDOR in the 70s and 80s, which involved western-backed dictatorships coordinating to kidnap and murder dissidents, remains a stark reminder, yet these past atrocities rarely elicit the same outrage. It
appears that 'international law' only applies when Western leaders are theoretically threatened, not when actual foreign heads of state face destabilization, or when democratically elected leaders in the 'Global South' are targeted. How many times must the West lecture on democracy while undermining it abroad?