Final answer:
Patrice Lumumba gave an interview to TASS to seek support from countries opposed to Belgian colonial rule in Congo and reduce Belgium's influence. The aim was to gain international support, enrage the US, shift support in his favor, and intensify pressure on Belgium. However, his actions further polarized the situation and ultimately led to his removal from power and tragic death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), gave an interview to the Russian news agency TASS because he sought support from countries that were opposed to the colonial rule of Belgium in Congo. Lumumba wanted to gain international backing for his government and reduce Belgium's influence in the country. The United States, on the other hand, supported Belgium and was wary of Lumumba's push for independence.
By giving an interview to TASS, Lumumba aimed to garner support from the Soviet Union and other countries sympathetic to the cause of decolonization. He hoped that by enraging the United States, it would lead to a shift in international support in favor of his government and increase pressure on Belgium to relinquish control over Congo. Lumumba saw it as a strategic move to advance the independence movement in his country.
While the interview with TASS did indeed anger the United States, it also further polarized the situation in Congo and intensified Cold War dynamics. Lumumba's actions were met with resistance from Belgium, the United States, and other anti-communist nations, eventually leading to his removal from power and his tragic death in 1961.
Learn more about Patrice Lumumba and the interview with TASS