Russia’s Dalliances with Venezuela Set Dangerous Precedent
About the same time US president Barack Obama was boasting about the new nuclear arms reduction deal he negotiated with Russia, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin was busy visiting Caracas, negotiating a series of agreements that will reshape the geopolitical landscape in the Americas. Upon his return to Moscow, Putin announced that he and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez had an agreement for the sale of over five billion dollars in armament to the South American country. This exceeds the 4.4 billion dollars in Russian military hardware Venezuela has acquired since 2005. The new arms deal provides Venezuela with a credit line in excess of two billion dollars.
Photo by Nikita Golovanov
The rapid arms build-up started by the leftist leader has many foreign observers preoccupied, as Venezuela isn’t in any danger of being aggressed by any other country, despite Chavez’ wild claims of a Colombian-American conspiracy. Acquiring such an arsenal could be a sign that Chavez plans to use it for offensive purposes at some future date, most probably against neighboring Colombia, a country for which Venezuela as well as allies Ecuador and Nicaragua had secretly drafted an invasion plan in the recent past. Such a scenario is made more plausible by the current perception that Colombia’s ally, the United States, has lost interest in the region under president Obama, and would shy away from intervening militarily in any conflict. It’s conceivable that Venezuela, the world’s fifth largest oil exporter, may seek to gain a direct access to the Pacific Ocean and the lucrative Chinese market, something that would become a reality if it controlled Colombia.
Venezuela’s new arms purchase include submarines, tanks, combat helicopters, troop transport aircraft, and long range mobile artillery. Another 30 bilateral accords were signed during the Putin-Chavez meeting, including one that paves the way for Russian firms to build oil refineries in Venezuela, as well as develop the enormous Hunin-6 oil field. Acquiring its own refining facilities is of particular strategic significance for Venezuela, as this will end its dependence on American refineries. Another deal struck during the meeting was one with far more reaching consequences in terms of future US-Venezuela policy: Russian cooperation to build Venezuela’s first nuclear power plant. Could “Iran West” be far off?
Bolivian president Evo Morales, a staunch Chavez supporter, was also present at the summit and sealed an agreement that will allow Moscow to build an air base in Bolivia, described as a refueling stop for Russian military aircraft. Morales also signed deals for co-development of gas fields in his country. Putin has long been seeking to restore the global clout Russia enjoyed as the USSR, as well as undermining American global influence. In Chavez and his allies, Putin has found willing partners and has handed the United States a serious political blow in its own hemisphere. For Chavez, the protection afforded by a Russian alliance will give him more maneuvering room in his own plans for regional dominance. Never shying away from an opportunity to peddle Russian influence, Putin is also reaching out to Venezuela’s enemy and the US’ most important South American ally, Colombia, offering aid against terrorism and perhaps other incentives, which he’ll discuss with outgoing president Alvaro Uribe during his upcoming visit to Moscow. Could Colombia pact something with Russia as insurance against Venezuela, perhaps also motivated by Washington’s waning interest in its key ally since George W Bush left? Lest we forget, Colombians are still waiting for passage of the long promised free trade agreement, and Plan Colombian, Washington’s anti-drug war funding, saw cuts last year.
Washington’s response to recent events has been muted. If it can’t see beyond its own domestic problems, the US could well be witnessing the beginning of a new Cold War, born right in its own backyard!
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About the author
Tom Germain is the editor and main author of tomgermain.com. A Canadian consultant and writer and serial expat currently living in Colombia.
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