By Michael Burgevin
After eight years of tension between Venezuela and the United States, President Hugo Chávez indicated last week that he is prepared to engage in conversations with the American government. “Any day is propitious for talking with President Barack Obama” announced Mr. Chávez to a news conference full of foreign correspondents on Sunday (nytimes). Mr. Chávez’s willingness to negotiate with the United States marks a dramatic shift from his recent criticism of President Obama. Relations between the administrations worsened in January when Mr. Chávez chastised the President for voicing concerns that Venezuela had offered assistance to Colombian rebels.
Fortifying a relationship with Mr. Chávez became increasingly important last Sunday when Venezuela passed a referendum that allows Mr. Chávez to run again for presidency in a vote declared to be democratic by the U.S. State Department. Mr. Chávez, who would have been forced to leave office in 2012, attempted to pass similar legislation in December 2007, but opposition forces managed to ignite a sufficient resistance against him. With the limit on presidential terms removed, many predict that if the political platform does not change dramatically in the next few years, Mr. Chávez will win again in 2012.
Venezuela’s relationship with the United States has been strained ever since the Bush administration tacitly approved of the failed coup attempt against Mr. Chávez in 2002. Affairs between the two countries worsened significantly last year, culminating in September when Mr. Chávez expelled the U.S. ambassador Patrick Duddy and recalled the Venezuelan ambassador from Washington under claims that the Bush administration was attempting to expel him from the presidency.
Mr. Chávez’s change of heart towards the American government has been accredited to the financial crisis in Venezuela. The United States still imports a majority of Venezuela’s oil. With crude oil prices having fallen so dramatically in the past year, and the credit crisis finally reaching Venezuela’s shore, many analysts believe that Mr. Chávez realizes the necessity of healthy trade relations with the U.S.
Some experts however are predicting a return to hostile relations as soon as Venezuela is able to realign its economic position. Allan Brewer Carias of the Columbia University Law School explained recently in an interview that “in order to maintain his leadership in the country (Mr. Chávez) needs to have an enemy, even though that enemy is a fiction.” Mr. Carias believes that it is only a matter of time before Mr. Chávez once again denounces the imperialist nature of the United States.
Hey Michael!
ReplyDeleteI found your entry really interesting and informative. I did not know much about U.S.-Venezuelan relations beforehand so it was nice to learn about Chavez and how he seems to be changing his views as the economy effects his ideas on trade. I'm curious what you think about Chavez and his need for an enemy, do you think that need will overpower his changed opinion in the future if he no longer needs trade with the U.S.? Or will Chavez perhaps turn elsewhere after creating a less tense relationship with the new administration?
-Jaya
Hey Jaya-
ReplyDeleteAs of right now, the US seems to be the most available enemy for Chavez. As the unquestionable regional hegemon, Chavez can continue to attack the U.S. government, and even if President Obama does shift U.S. foreign policy in Latin America significantly, Chavez can continue to attack us based on historical dealings with Venezuela and the area at large. Still, until the issue of international trade relaxes, I think Chavez will have no other choice than to at least feign good graces with the Obama administration.