France did speak out against the USA publicly after the news broke, so that was one option, yes. TBH Snowden had no reason to believe Russia or China would keep him after he already outlived his usefulness, unless perhaps they still think he’s useful even now.
Then he shouldn’t have picked China and Russia as his first two options. While speaking with reporters he was already in Hong Kong intending to cross into China but realized they have an extradition agreement with the USA.
It simply makes no sense otherwise why he would go to Hong Kong before leaking the intel, and then with China puing strings to get him into Russia after his failure to reach Cuba or Ecuador.
TBF he did attempt to flee to China then successfully fled to Russia.
Where was he supposed to go? London? Paris? You think US allies wouldn’t hand in over when asked?
France did speak out against the USA publicly after the news broke, so that was one option, yes. TBH Snowden had no reason to believe Russia or China would keep him after he already outlived his usefulness, unless perhaps they still think he’s useful even now.
After the US had revoked his passport, while he was already in Russia, en route to Ecuador.
Then he shouldn’t have picked China and Russia as his first two options. While speaking with reporters he was already in Hong Kong intending to cross into China but realized they have an extradition agreement with the USA.
This is simply not true. Source?
It simply makes no sense otherwise why he would go to Hong Kong before leaking the intel, and then with China puing strings to get him into Russia after his failure to reach Cuba or Ecuador.