Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to be highly selective in deciding which foreign governments are the good guys and which are the bad guys.
This became obvious in recent days after the Venezuelan authorities expelled Craig Kowalik, Canada’s chargé d’affaires stationed in Caracas, after statements supposedly made by Canada’s diplomats publicly criticizing the controversial government of President Nicolas Maduro.
In a predictable tit for tat, the Trudeau government announced that the Venezuelan ambassador, who was out of the country in protest over Canadian criticism of the Maduro government, was no longer welcome.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland used the occasion to berate the Maduro government for its alleged undermining of democracy in Venezuela and said Canada and other nations in the region were co-operating to restore democracy in Venezuela.
While many are familiar with criticism of Venezuela’s deteriorating economic situation and increasing domestic political unrest, especially resulting from the dramatic drop in revenue from its oil exports, fewer are fully aware of the deep social and class divisions that the Venezuelan people continue to confront.
Unfortunately, despite that country’s bountiful natural resources, a small, privileged elite never seriously engaged in using the country’s natural and human resources to benefit all members of society. Nor did the elite promote national goals aimed at encouraging authentic democracy and equal opportunity for all.
The political and economic chaos gripping Venezuelan society is the latest manifestation of deep divisions and a lack of solidarity. The chaos is a graphic reminder of what can happen in any society when its members are so deeply divided that they turn on each other.
It is at such troubled times that democratic countries such as Canada should be wary of assuming they have a unique ability to pass judgment on the merits of other societies and the challenges their governments might confront.
This includes Venezuela, which has almost always been dominated by small groups that seldom have shown any serious commitment to less fortunate members of society.
Countries such as Canada, blessed by abundant resources and a well-educated populace with relatively moderate leaders, have been able to create a more or less tolerant society where extremism is held at bay and citizens’ legal rights, freedom of religion and gender equality are respected and actively promoted.
That goal still remains to be realized on a global basis.
But even countries that loudly proclaim their allegiance to authentic democracy and respect for the rule of law can, on closer inspection, be found wanting.
This is a reality Trudeau should ponder the next time he feels confident in deciding the merits of other countries.
Some governments, including both Canada and the United States, are quick to pass judgment on the actions of a few countries, but never question the actions or policies of others, even when they violate the human rights of their own citizens.
Canada, for example, might question the actions of governments in the Middle East, Africa or Latin America, but is often reluctant to do so when it involves European nations or members of NATO such as Turkey, where fundamental human rights are increasingly under threat and thousands of the Erdogan government’s opponents imprisoned.
While Freeland has denounced the undermining of political rights in Venezuela, Trudeau found excuses for selling Saudi Arabia a large supply of anti-riot vehicles in a country where women have only limited rights, no free elections exist and the death penalty can involve public beheadings.
The current strongman in Saudi Arabia is the ailing king’s son, who recently purged the Saudi elite to ensure his own rule. He’s also responsible for the Saudi air war in Yemen, which has caused thousands of casualties and threatens to unleash widespread famine.
The next time the Trudeau government feels free to denounce any country for its actions or alleged failings, it might wish to include governments entrenched in places such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Harry Sterling is a former diplomat and an Ottawa-based columnist.
