Welcome to the Empire Files podcast.

This is your host, Abby Martin.

Now weeks into the war in Ukraine, most people in the global north are hearing a lot about what the West and NATO countries have to say about Russia and its invasion.

And the wide array of actions and response being taken by the imperialist bloc. But just south of the U.S. border,

a different discussion is taking place, in particular among the many new left-wing governments

that have won elections in recent years.

How has the realignment over the war in Ukraine impacted these countries?

Many of which are under sanctions and threats of regime change by the U.S.

And how do they fit into the larger bloc creating a counterpole to U.S. imperialism centered around China.

To learn about this important dimension of the Ukraine crisis, we're joined from

Nicaragua by Ben Norton, journalist and editor of the bilingual outlet, Multipolarista.

You can find and support his work at multipolarista.com.

Ben Norton, thank you so much for coming on the Empire Files podcast. Of find and support his work at multipolarista.com.

Ben Norton, thank you so much for coming on the Empire Files podcast.

Of course. Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure of being here.

So, Ben, let's start by talking about Ukraine and this dramatic shift of policy in the wake of Russia's invasion when it comes to one of the main oil producers in the world, Venezuela.

This is a country that's been the target of bipartisan regime change efforts for 20 years.

I feel like I have to remind people the insanity during the Trump administration with the Juan Wido incubator baby who was propped up and really forced on the world for so long. Like, you have to recognize

this illegitimate, like, prop that we, you know, basically cultivated here in this country. Just

absolutely insane. But then the Biden administration comes in then and basically just continues

Trump's policies with sanctions.

And, you know, these sanctions have been really devastating on Venezuela.

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