Chilean President: Today Ukraine, tomorrow anyone
President Boric of Chile says 鈥楻ussia should withdraw鈥� from Ukraine conflict.
President Boric of Chile says 鈥楻ussia should withdraw鈥� from Ukraine conflict.
Chile鈥檚 President Gabriel Boric has told the 大象传媒 that the war in Ukraine is not the fault of both parties, and that Russia 鈥榠nvaded a free country鈥� and 鈥榮hould withdraw鈥�.
Speaking to Stephen Sackur on HARDtalk, President Boric said 鈥榳e should defend international law. Because now it's Ukraine, tomorrow it could be us. It could be anyone.鈥�
In contrast to other Latin American leaders more closely aligned to Moscow, President Boric and has been critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He says while there might be different opinions on the reasons for the conflict, there should be agreement that 鈥渋nternational law should be respected at all times鈥�.
Gabriel Boric, Latin America鈥檚 youngest head of state at just 37, is seen as the driving force of the new progressive politics on the continent. Unlike leftist movements of the past which emphasised revolutionary socialism and anti-imperialism, Boric has put human rights and democracy at the centre of his political project. This has put him at odds with many leaders in the region and he has spoken out against the authoritarian regimes of Nicol谩s Maduro in Venezuela and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua.
President Boric also said Europe and the US had lost influence in Latin America to China, which was in 鈥榓 stronger position鈥� because they are doing a better job鈥�. The US he said 鈥榮hould recognise that they did wrong in the relationship with Latin America, promoting military coups鈥�. President Boric said he wanted his region to be independent 鈥榠n a world that is becoming more polarised鈥� and to form closer ties to countries 鈥榳ith shared values鈥�.
