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Hugo Chavez Prepares for War
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Venezuela and Colombia have had rocky relations for several months now, ever since Colombia announced that it would allow the US to develop military bases there, officially to help in anti-drugs operations.
Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez has famously resisted American influence, particularly during the Bush era. When the news was released, Chavez began saber-rattling, freezing diplomatic ties with Colombia, and has continued to claim Colombian conspiracy against Venezuela, including apparently arresting spies in late October.
Recently, Chavez has moved 15,000 soldiers to the Colombian border, apparently to combat Colombian paramilitary forces. Chavez has Bolivian President Evo Morales as a close ally, who similarly seeks to limit American military presence in the region. Both leaders insist that combating drugs is but a cover for the spread of American influence. Chavez considers it a possible springboard move for an invasion of Venezuela.
Colombia has appealed for support from the UN, and the Organization of American States. It is currently the last of the US' direct allies in South America, where the US has had a long history of assisting the government in cracking down on the cocaine growth and trade, grown largely by local mafia and the ostensibly-Marxist Farc rebels.
The official US position has not yet been firmly decided. It may be prudent to wait for a UN Resolution, although Russia's support for Venezuela in recent months may prompt them to veto any restrictive or punitive measure. Russia has recently completed several arms sales to Venezuela, cooperated in military exercises in Venezuelan waters, and extended a $2 billion loan. In a show of similar support, Venezuela diplomatically sided with Russia in the Georgia conflict of 2008 and recognized the alleged puppet states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Since election, President Obama has managed to largely improve relations with Chavez, who during the Bush administration constantly criticized the United States, and particularly its dipolmatic policies (including supporting the United States' "Rogue States" such as Cuba and Iran). When first elected, Chavez had supported Obama, but has recently reverted to his familiar suspicion during public speeches.
Therefore it is difficult to know whether this is bluster, intentional, or simply Chavez's apparent unpredictability. Nevertheless, yesterday's speech carried serious words: "Let's not waste a day on our main aim: to prepare for war."
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