Caracas Daily Journal (Vincent Bevins ): Two fundamental truisms about current international relations in this hemisphere were re-enforced this week. Firstly, Chávez' government and the United States like to trade insults. Secondly, South American countries in the minority that are not aligned with Chávez are vocally nervous about his influence.
Earlier this week, U.S. intelligence agencies again accused the Venezuelan government, along with its "ideological ally," Cuba, of being a negative force on the region, especially the governments of Bolivia, Nicaragua, and, to a lesser extent, Ecuador.
Unsurprisingly, the Venezuelan government responded in kind. Vice-President of the Committee for International Relations, Carlos Escarrá, said "We reject these declarations as false and slanderous…the only government that has tried to destabilize the countries of Latin America has always been the United States."
He added that the U.S. is the only country which has invaded countries and kidnapped presidents, referring to the country's complicity in the 2002 failed coup against Chávez.
And the government of Perú, one of the few countries without good relations with Venezuela in South America, recently denounced ALBA as an attempt to "export the Venezuelan revolution." These remarks came from Minister of Defense Flores-Aráoz.
They will likely be reminded that Venezuela maintains very good relations with most Latin American countries and ALBA membership is purely voluntary.
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