This week there was a contentious meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Colombia. President (and dictator) Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela called on other nations to resist increased US military activity and pressure in the region. This came after a wave of US bombings of alleged drug trafficking boats which have been controversial in the international scene, drawing some condemnation from local countries and even the UN.
Criticism came strongest from allies of the Venezuelan regime, particularly other left-wing Latin American leaders, such as Brazil’s Lula da Silva who claimed that “old rhetorical maneuvers are being recycled to justify illegal interventions.” Talks to bring about some form of reconciliation in the matter have largely been ineffective during the summit.
Another point of contention has been Venezuela’s refusal to endorse a final joint declaration of the nations, despite participating in the negotiations throughout. This was over both the lack of a direct naming of the US in a discussion of regional maritime security, as well as the call for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Venezuela has had close ties to Russia, a fellow oil exporter that routinely pressures its allies to advance its own political agenda. As long as the Maduro regime maintains its grip on power in the country, any initiatives supportive of Ukraine in the southern half of the western hemisphere are bound to lead nowhere.
All in all, it looks like both the Venezuelan and American governments are content to puff their chests and flex their metaphorical muscles at one another as the rest of the world looks on in worry. As the situation in the Caribbean progresses, we will continue to monitor and report any important developments here, which may be many in the coming weeks.
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