Venezuela - The Proxy for the Cold War Part 2

While it received negligible coverage in the Western media, an important meeting was held in Wuzhen, China by key members of the new global multipolar order, China, India and Russia aka the RICs.  During this trilateral meeting of nations that represent 2.9 billion people or nearly ten times the population of the United States, one of the topics that was discussed was the situation in Venezuela.

Here is the press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation showing what the foreign ministers of the three nations discussed:

Here is what Tass, Russia's largest news agency had to say about the meeting and the conclusions that the three nations made about Venezuela:

"Russia keeps a close eye on brazen US attempts to create an artificial pretext for a military intervention in Venezuela, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Indian and Chinese counterparts, Sushma Swaraj and Wang Yi.

"We are watching closely the reports about what is really happening there. We see how absolutely brazen attempts have been taken to artificially create a pretext for military intervention," Lavrov said. "We hear direct threats from Washington that all options remain on the table. The actual implementation of these threats is pulling in military equipment and training [US] special forces," he said.

The attempts to break through the Venezuelan border under the pretext of delivering humanitarian aid have been made "in hopes that there will be casualties," Lavrov noted. "Then hysterical screaming will follow under the well-known scenario and an attempt of military intervention will be carried out."

Moscow has been actively cooperating with all countries that are also concerned over the looming prospect of a military action, the foreign minister said. "It’s no coincidence that Brazil’s leadership has already stated that it won’t participate in this and provide its territory for the US for aggression against Venezuela," he noted.

"I believe that no Latin American country, including members of the so-called Lima Group, actively calling for an early presidential election and supporting [self-proclaimed president] Juan Guaido, has voiced support for military intervention," he noted.

Russia’s top diplomat called on the United States to listen to the opinion of regional states. "First of all, we advise to focus on the ideas of the Montevideo Mechanism envisaging a nationwide dialogue with participation of all political forces," Lavrov explained. "Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly stated his readiness for such a dialogue. Unfortunately, Mr. Guaido and his allies reject these proposals and only demand meeting their ultimatum on an early presidential election." (my bold)

After the trilateral meeting, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, met with the Acting Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez on March 1, 2019.  After that meeting, Mr. Lavrov made the following comments:

"Venezuela is an old and reliable partner of ours. Today we have reaffirmed our solidarity with the people and the legitimate government of the country and also supported its efforts to protect its sovereignty and independence.

We are in complete agreement on the need for unconditional adherence to the fundamental principles envisaged in the UN Charter by all states without exception – non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs above all. It is especially important today when the entire world can see the cynical campaign that aims to topple the legitimate Venezuelan government, including by threatening it with direct military intervention.

Russia has consistently spoken in support of the exclusively peaceful resolution of internal Venezuelan problems. It is obvious that Venezuelans must independently take steps to fix the current situation without instructions, pressure or ultimatums from the outside.

We have expressed our solidarity with the friendly Venezuelan people and our support for the measures taken by Nicolas Maduro’s government to prevent further destabilisation. We have reaffirmed our readiness to join in the efforts of regional and international mediators calling for an inclusive national dialogue. As I have said, we will be ready to join in given the consent of the main political forces in Venezuela.

Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed what President Nicolas Maduro has said repeatedly: that the Venezuelan leadership is ready for such a dialogue. Of course, it is unfortunate that the opposition has consistently rejected dialogue – upon direct instructions from Washington, as we all know very well.

Ms. Rodriguez also informed us about the developments in Venezuela’s domestic politics and told us about the efforts to stabilise the socioeconomic situation that has deteriorated, as we all know, as a result of illegitimate unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on the leading sectors of the Venezuelan economy and the freezing of Venezuela’s state assets abroad, above all in the United States and Great Britain....

Russia will continue to support the Venezuelan authorities in resolving its socioeconomic problems, including through provision of legitimate humanitarian assistance. We proceed from the premise that the best way to help the Venezuelans is to expand practical, pragmatic, mutually beneficial cooperation. In this context we mapped out steps towards strengthening links in trade, investment, industrial production and finances, pursuant to the agreements reached by presidents Vladimir Putin and Nicolas Maduro last December in Moscow." (my bolds)

Mr. Lavrov also went on to note that there will be a high-level intergovernmental meeting of the two nations in Moscow in early April 2019 at which they will discuss the implementation of large projects in geological exploration and upstream operations and defense industry cooperation among other things.

When asked about the U.S. plans to establish an illegal armed unit in Venezuela, here is what he had to say:

"We are certainly worried about the US plans to arm militants in order to destabilise the situation in Venezuela and, frankly speaking, invade this sovereign country. The US is not embarrassed to speak openly about it. According to incoming reports, the US plans to buy small arms, mortars, portable air defence systems and a number of other types of weapons in an East European country, and move them closer to Venezuela by an airline of a regime that is the most, or rather absolutely obedient to Washington in the post-Soviet space.

Naturally, we see these intentions. Many other countries, including Venezuela’s next door neighbours, see them, too. Brazil and Columbia, for one, announced their intention not to support plans for a military invasion of Venezuela in any way. If they keep their promise and firmly adhere to this position, the US plans are unlikely to materialise. I hope the absolute, universal rejection of military scenarios by the world will cool down the hotheads in Washington, although some of them are truly unstoppable. But we will work on the basis of international law and demand that the US respect the UN Charter."

Now, let's look at what the United States Warrior-in-Chief, John Bolton, had to say during a one-on-one discussion with Jake Tapper on CNN:

.@AmbJohnBolton on Venezuela: “I’d like to see as broad a coalition as we can put together to replace Maduro”@jaketapper: Do you not see US support for other dictators around the world undermines the credibility of your argument?

Bolton: “No, I don’t think it does." #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/hJH9br8E6t

— CNN (@CNN) March 3, 2019

 

Here are two key quotes from his musings:

“I’d like to see as broad a coalition as we can put together to replace Maduro, to replace the whole corrupt regime.  That’s what we’re trying to do.”

“In this administration we’re not afraid to use the phrase ‘Monroe Doctrine.  This is a country in our hemisphere and it’s been the objective of American presidents going back to Ronald Reagan to have a completely Democratic hemisphere.”

And, Mr. Bolton mentions Venezuela's corrupt regime, Transparency International's most recent Corruptions Perceptions Index for 2018 noted that the United States came in 22nd place, just ahead of the United Arab Emirates, down from 16th place in 201 as shown here:

If he wants to go to war so badly, perhaps Mr. Bolton should don a Marine uniform, pick up an M16A4 rifle, strap a parachute on his back and launch himself into the midst of the looming South American hostilities.  That will prove the mettle of the man.

In any case, it certainly appears that Venezuela is becoming the Vietnam of the new millennium with both sides in the Cold War Part 2 using the nation as a proxy for their global agenda.  The only problem is that, this time there is a new player on the scene.  China is a growing world power and has shown that it is backing Russia, unlike the situation during the first Cold War.