Stuart Munckton
Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez carried out a successful two-week international tour, beginning on July 21, to Argentina, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Qatar and Vietnam, frustrating efforts by the US government to isolate Venezuela internationally.
Washington has strongly opposed the Chavez government and the pro-poor Bolivarian revolution it is leading. Venezuela was at the forefront of the successful opposition against the US-pushed Free Trade Area of the Americas, which would have further opened up the continent to exploitation by US corporations.
A July 31 Venezuelanalysis.com article reported that on July 27, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning Venezuela for allegedly failing to secure its airports against drug traffickers. The resolution claims that drug trafficking is increasing from Venezuela, and that Venezuela is in violation of the 1998 UN Drug Convention.
Washington has already removed Venezuela from its list of countries it deems are "cooperating" with its "war on drugs", in response to the Chavez government's decision to cease cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Agency after accusing DEA agents of spying. However, even the US government's own figures show that under the Chavez government the amount of drugs interdicted has increased.
On July 25, while Chavez was in Russia, Moscow ignored strong US opposition to sign a US$3 billion dollar agreement to sell fighter jets and helicopters to Venezuela, as well as to help construct a rifle-making factory. The US has placed an arms embargo on Venezuela.
The Wall Street Journal reported on August 1 that the US State Department responded to the agreement to construct the factory by arguing that this would exceed Venezuela's own security needs, speculating that Venezuela would arm "Latin insurgents". However Venezuela is significantly expanding its army reserves in a bid to prepare for any military attack from the US. A July 30 Associated Press article quoted Chavez saying that Venezuela could export weapons to Bolivia if the US extends its arms embargo to the government of left-wing President Evo Morales.
Venezuelanalysis.com reported on July 29 that Russia had agreed to back Venezuela's push for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
While in Iran, Chavez signed 11 commercial agreements, according to a July 31 Venezuelanalysis.com report, covering energy, pharmaceuticals, civil aviation, medicine and environmental protection, with a US$4 billion agreement for investment between Petropars, the Iranian state-owned oil company, and PDVSA, its Venezuelan counterpart.
AP reported that both countries pledged to support the other against US aggression, with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling Chavez "brother and trench mate". Chavez repeated Venezuela's solidarity with Iran against the threat of a US-led military attack, saying Venezuela would "stay by Iran at any time and under any condition". Chavez insisted, "If we are united, we can not only resist but we can also defeat imperialism".
Venezuelanalysis.com commented on the differences that exist between the governments of Venezuela and Iran, pointing out that "while Chavez has used the windfall from the high price of oil to increase the quality of life of Venezuelans, Ahmadinejad has done little in this arena. On the contrary, his regime oppresses efforts by Iranians to form labor unions and fight for better wages."
Chavez became the first Venezuelan head of state to visit Vietnam when he arrived on July 30. Venezuela and Vietnam signed a petroleum cooperative agreement. Chavez pointed out that, similar to other Third World countries, Vietnam exports crude oil and imports refined petrol, costing Vietnam $2 billion per year. Venezuelanalysis.com reported that the agreement aims to include the construction of a refinery in Vietnam to reverse this situation.
Chavez used his visit to highlight the successful Vietnamese resistance to US occupation, which drove out the US in 1975. Chavez also praised Vietnam's socialist system, according to Venezuelanalysis.com, declaring "Vietnam, with its bravery, was victorious over imperialism not only on the battlefield. Vietnam has also been maintaining the socialist standard in the ideological field."
In a July 31 interview on Fox News, US President George Bush attacked the Chavez government as a threat to democracy. In response to the perceived threat that Venezuela, the third-largest supplier of oil to the US, might cut supplies, Bush said the US needed to develop alternative plans to ensure supply. An August 1 Financial Times article quoted Venezuelan ambassador to the US Bernardo Alvarez responding to Bush by saying that despite US hostility, Venezuela would continue to sell oil to the US, stopping supplies only if US hostility turned into a military attack.