Foreign relations of Venezuela

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Venezuela

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The foreign relations of Venezuela have since the early twentieth century been particularly strong with the United States. However with the election of Hugo Chávez as President of Venezuela in 1998, the foreign policy of the Hugo Chávez government has differed substantially from that of previous Venezuelan governments. This article mainly concerns Venezuela's foreign relations before Hugo Chávez's election.

Contents 1 South America 1.1 Colombia 1.2 Cuba 1.3 Ecuador 1.4 Guyana 2 United States 2.1 The Roosevelt Corollary and Dollar Diplomacy 2.2 Hugo Chávez government 3 Other countries 3.1 Canada 3.2 Republic of China 3.3 France 3.4 Holy See 3.5 Iran 3.6 Israel 3.7 Japan 3.8 Malaysia 3.9 The Netherlands 3.10 Russia 3.11 Serbia 3.12 Solomon Islands 3.13 Taiwan 4 International disputes 4.1 Border dispute 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References

[edit] South America

Venezuela worked closely with its neighbors following the 1997 Summit of the Americas in many areas--particularly energy integration--and championed the OAS decision to adopt the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, also being among the first to ratify it (in 1997).

[edit] Colombia

In the 20th century the relationship with Colombia has evolved with ups and downs mostly regarding the Colombia-Venezuela maritime territory dispute over the Gulf of Venezuela. The lowest point in the relationship occurred on August 19, 1987 after the Colombian Corvette ARC Caldas (FM-52) trespassed into disputed waters and then President of Venezuela, Jaime Lusinchi ordered the Venezuelan Air Force to the area and coerced the Colombians. The standoff was resolved through diplomatic channels but the dispute remained.^[1]

One of the main issues has been the large wave of Colombians that migrated to Venezuela in the 1970s and 1980s, working primarily in low-end jobs. Many Colombian immigrants were imprisoned in Venezuela under deplorable conditions, faced discrimination and endured human rights violations.^[2] The Colombian armed conflict has also provoked impasses between the two countries. Military illegal incursions by the two countries' military forces into each others' territory have been frequent since the conflict in Colombia escalated in the 1980s, which subsequently triggered forced displacements in Colombia and into Venezuela. Illegally armed groups also trespassed into Venezuela to commit crimes. Contraband flows from one territory to another depending on supply and demand along the shared porous border of 1,375 miles (2,210 km). Illegal products range from gasoline, drugs and weapons to stolen cars. Since 2002, the relationship between Colombia and Venezuela has fluctuated due to the ideological differences that separate Hugo Chávez and Álvaro Uribe. The relationship between the two countries once again reached a low point in November 2007 after a failed effort to achieve a humanitarian exchange, causing the relations to freeze.^[3]

[edit] Cuba

See Cuba–Venezuela relations

[edit] Ecuador

See Ecuador–Venezuela relations

[edit] Guyana

Relations between Venezuela and Guyana are marred by a long-standing territorial dispute over lands in the Orinoco basin. Venezuela claimed more than half of the territory of the British colony of Guyana at the time of the Latin American wars of independence, a dispute that was settled by arbitration in 1899. In 1962 Venezuela declared that it would no longer abide by the arbitration decision, which ceded mineral-rich territory in the Orinoco basin to Guyana. The area is called Guayana Esequiba by Venezuela. A border commission was set up in 1966 with representatives from Guyana, Venezuela and Great Britain, but failed to reach agreement. Venezuela vetoed Guyana's bid to become a member of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1967. In 1969 Venezuela backed an abortive uprising in the disputed area.

Under intense diplomatic pressure, Venezuela agreed in 1970 to a 12-year moratorium on the dispute with the Protocol of Port-of-Spain. In 1981, Venezuela refused to renew the protocol. However, with changes to the governments of both countries relations improved, to the extent that in 1990 Venezuela sponsored Guyana's bid for OAS membership in 1990.^[4][5]

[edit] United States

United States-Venezuela relations have traditionally been close, characterized by an important trade and investment relationship and cooperation in combating the production and transit of illegal drugs. Recently, there has been tension between the two countries since the election of Presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and George W. Bush of the United States.

[edit] The Roosevelt Corollary and Dollar Diplomacy

When the government under Cipriano Castro was no longer able to placate the demands of European bankers in 1902, naval forces from Great Britain, Italy, and Germany erected a blockade along the Venezuelan coast and even fired upon coastal fortifications. Though United States Secretary of State Elihu Root characterized Castro as a "a crazy brute," President Roosevelt was concerned with the prospects of penetration into the region by the German Empire. Roosevelt threatened military action against the European powers, who retreated and later negotiated with Castro. This incident was a major stimulus behind the Roosevelt Corollary and the subsequent U.S. policy of Dollar Diplomacy in Latin America.

During the presidency of Juan Vicente Gómez, petroleum was discovered under Lake Maracaibo. Gómez managed to deflate Venezuela's staggering debt by granting concessions to foreign oil companies, which won him the support of the United States and the European powers. The growth of the domestic oil industry strengthened the economic ties between the U.S. and Venezuela.

[edit] Hugo Chávez government

Since Hugo Chávez was elected President of Venezuela, the long-standing close diplomatic relationship between Venezuela and the United States has deteriorated. Chávez's stance as an OPEC price hawk has raised the price of oil for the United States. His public friendship and significant trade relationship with Cuba and Fidel Castro has undermined the U.S. foreign policy of isolating Cuba. Long-running ties between the U.S. and Venezuelan militaries were severed on Chávez's initiative. Chávez has been intensely critical of U.S. economic and foreign policy: in Iraq, Haiti, Kosovo, Free Trade Area of the Americas and in numerous other areas.

Chávez has also accused the US of involvement in, or at least foreknowledge of, the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt.

At the 2005 meeting of the Organization of American States, a United States resolution to add a mechanism to monitor the nature of democracies was widely seen as a move to isolate Venezuela. The failure of the resolution was seen as politically significant, expressing Latin American support for Chávez.

[edit] Other countries

[edit] Canada

Venezuela and Canada have had diplomatic relations since January 1953. The relations between the two countries have been based on mutual commercial interests; especially in technology, oil and gas industry, telecommunications and others.

[edit] Republic of China

[edit] France

See France–Venezuela relations

[edit] Holy See

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1869. The Holy See has a nunciature in Caracas.^[6] Venezuela has an embassy in Rome.

There have been tensions with the Vatican under the presidency of Hugo Chavez, a president who while being Catholic is ideologically influenced by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Simon Bolivar, political thinkers that have historically been opposed to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Chavez also cites his support for the liberation theology of Leonardo Boff, which Rome had opposed in the 1970s and 1980s.^[7]

[edit] Iran

See Iran–Venezuela relations

[edit] Israel

Israel-Venezuela relations were historically strong. Relations soured in 2006, relating to President Hugo Chávez's convictions regarding the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, and partly due to Hugo Chávez's foreign policy relating to Iran and Israel's political opposition to it. Chavez has also positioned himself on the world stage as opposed to American foreign policy — the USA and Israel are partners in defense and international relations, specifically relating to the Middle East. Currently, in the wake of the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, Venezuela has broken all diplomatic ties with the state of Israel; condemning its actions.

Venezuela voted in favor of Israeli membership in the United Nations on November 27, 1947 and established diplomatic ties. During the Six-Day War many Venezuelan Jews went to Israel to fight for Israel.^[8]

When the United Nations passed General Assembly Resolution 3379 on November 10, 1975, "determin[ing] that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination", Venezuela abstained.^[9] The resolution was later revoked. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres visited Caracas in January 1995, during the second Caldera administration, to "cement ties with friendly countries, and to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual benefit". Venezuela's Foreign Minister noted that "The reception that was given for Foreign Minister Peres was unprecedented." ^[10]

[edit] Japan

See Japan-Venezuela relations

[edit] Malaysia

See Malaysia-Venezuela relations

[edit] The Netherlands

The ABC Islands, all dependencies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands lie less than 15 miles off Venezuela's shores. Chavez has described himself as a fierce opponent of colonialism and as such, is opposed to a large Western power having what he perceives as having undue influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. The most populous of these territories is the Island of Aruba, whose demographics are not unlike that of Venezuela and much of South America. Chavez has called for "revolutionary independence" for these Islands, an proposition that has disturbed many Islanders and high-ranking Dutch military officials in The Hague. This, combined with Chavez's recent alliances with nations hostile to the Western world, has prompted the Dutch government to position Dutch naval equipment on several unpopulated islands near Venezuela. This met intense parliamentary resistance from the famously dovish Dutch populous. It remains unseen what the future of relations will be when new leadership from both nations come to power.

[edit] Russia

See Russia–Venezuela relations

[edit] Serbia

See also Foreign relations of Serbia

• Serbia is represented in Venezuela through its embassy in Brasília (Brazil).
• Venezuela is represented in Serbia through its embassy in Sofia (Bulgaria).
• In 2007, Serbia exported goods worth €33,000 to Venezuela, while Venezuelan exports totaled €158,000.
• After the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced that Venezuela does not recognise Kosovo's independence on the grounds that it has been achieved through U.S. pressure and criticised a recent political movement calling out for a more autonomous Zulia state. He said "This cannot be accepted. It's a very dangerous precedent for the entire world.".^[11]On 24 March 2008, Chavez accused Washington of trying to "weaken Russia" by supporting independence for Kosovo. He called Kosovo's new leader, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, a "terrorist" put in power by the U.S. and noted that the former rebel leader's nom de guerre was "The Snake".^[12] Chavez had strongly opposed the NATO intervention in Kosovo in 1999 when he first became president.
• Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Venezuela

[edit] Solomon Islands

See Solomon Islands – Venezuela relations

In October 2008 Solomons Prime Minister Derek Sikua moved to establish economic relations with Caracas, hoping to benefit from comparatively cheap Venezuelan oil. In a rare display of bipartisanship, Solomons Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare praised his political rival for this move, stating that -in the context of the 2008 global financial crisis- it would bring down the price of oil for Solomon Islanders, and boost the economy if the Solomons imported crude Venezuelan oil, refined it and then exported it to neighbouring countries.^[13]

[edit] Taiwan

Republic of China-Venezuela relations have almost been nonexistent since Venezuela recognized the People's Republic of China in 1974, although unofficial relations have been preserved through a Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Caracas. In the 2000s, increasing partnership between the government of the Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and People's Republic of China has led to a more overt rejection of the Republic of China's legitimacy by Venezuela.

[edit] International disputes

[edit] Border dispute

Venezuela claims most of Guyana west of the Essequibo River. It also has a maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela.

[edit] See also

• Foreign policy of Hugo Chávez
• List of diplomatic missions in Venezuela
• Venezuelan diplomatic missions
• Maletinazo

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Frisneda, Pedro F. (UPI, 5 April 2005). "Deciphering 'The Chavez Code'". Retrieved 28 October 2005.
• Parma, Alessandro. (Venezuelanalysis, 24 October 2005). "U.S. Continues to Block Venezuelan Defense Development". Retrieved 28 October 2005.

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