[ad_1]
Editorial in the US – The political crisis following the elections in Venezuela has had a major impact in Latin America, increasing tensions and changing relations between several countries such as Nicaragua, which strongly criticized Colombia and Brazil, or Honduras, which announced the “termination” of the extradition agreement with the United States it had joined.
The official results of the July 28 presidential election, in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner, have intensified internal conflict and also damaged Venezuela’s relations with Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
The Chavista administration expelled diplomatic representatives from those countries, rejecting their “actions and statements of interference” in the elections.
Despite attempts by his closest allies, such as Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to mediate the crisis, so far to no avail, sparking pressure and criticism from one side and from the other.
Lula, whose party was one of the first to recognize Maduro’s victory, has in recent days hardened its position on the official results of the presidential election and joined the majority of the international community in demanding the disaggregated publication of the results that certify Maduro’s victory as Venezuelan president.
The stance has led Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to consider breaking off relations with Brazil after he said Lula, one of the region’s leaders, had reacted “brutally” and “cowardly” by not recognizing Maduro’s victory and was part of a “servile, traitorous, dilatory government.”
Ortega also attacked Petro, who he said was “competing with Lula to see who will be the leader representing the Yankees in Latin America.”
For Fernando Pedrosa, a professor and researcher at the University of Buenos Aires, “Brazil has a big problem. “On the one hand, Brazil is putting pressure on us, but it is also not exerting any pressure, because Maduro is also secretly threatening to start an armed conflict in Essequibo, on the Brazilian border. ”
The crisis between Venezuela and Guyana was further exacerbated late last year when a referendum in Caracas approved the annexation of Essequibo, an area of about 160,000 square kilometers rich in oil and natural resources, in a conflict in which Brazil has played a mediating role.
“For too long, the polarization in Latin America has not been between left and right, but between authoritarianism and democracy. Regardless of ideology, the principles must be the same,” Juanita Goebertus Estrada, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, told EFE.
Political loyalty
Pedrosa told EFE that the Venezuelan government and Maduro “feel very safe” and in this sense they are “dragging down” allies such as Ortega or Honduran President Xiomara Castro.
This Wednesday, Castro ordered the termination of the extradition treaty with the United States and Honduran officials after the U.S. ambassador to Tegucigalpa, Laura Dogu, questioned a meeting between Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who is under sanctions by the Joe Biden administration.
“He has the ability to fight a government like the United States, which is already in retreat. She feels this is a moment of strength for her because of her alliance with Venezuela and other extra-regional powers,” the Argentine analyst said, adding that the Central American country’s position will surely change when a new US administration takes office and is different.
Currently, the dominance of the Latin American left is complex and influenced by internal historical, political and economic backgrounds, so the region’s left is not a monolithic group.
Pedrosa explained that the region is experiencing “left-wing dominance, ethnic differences and conflicts related to ethnicity.”
«(Gabriel) Boric of Chile knows this very well, which is why his voice does not tremble in front of Maduro and Ortega, or in front of (Nayib) Bukele of El Salvador. On the other hand, Xiomara Castro of Honduras has chosen to ally himself with authoritarians of the left and the right. “Lula, Obrador and Petro are trying to play an active role in the region, privileging diplomatic channels,” Gobertus said.
However, he added, “time is running out and they will have to choose whether to end up allying themselves with authoritarianism or to be willing to truly defend human rights and the rule of law over political allegiance.”
The situation in Venezuela has also sparked heated debate at the Organization of American States and other international forums, but no consensus has been reached, indicating deep divisions in the region on issues such as how to handle and respond to the Venezuelan crisis. JS
[ad_2]
Source link
