Foreign Policy magazine publishes fear-mongering accusations that Venezuela is becoming a narco-state.
Foreign Policy Magazine Analyst Stokes Fears About Mexican-style Drug War in Venezuela
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Venezuela
Despite Triumphant Return of Chavez, Questions About His Health Linger
In spite of Venezuela’s President Chavez’s illness, the lack of an obvious successor, along with his support among the poor, make him a formidable opponent in 2012.
Chavez’s Cult of Personality Creates Succession Problems
Executive power in Venezuela has been so -centric that it’s anybody’s guess who would replace him were he unable to govern.
WikiLeaks: Venezuela’s Crude Awakening
Without technology and know-how, even the world’s largest oil reserves are worthless.
WikiLeaks XXXII: Guatemalan President Colom Walks a Tightrope Between U.S. and Venezuela
Alvaro Colom signed an oil deal with Hugo Chavez while trying not to alienate the United States.
Two, Three, Many Colombias
This past September, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton drew criticism for comparing the current situation in Mexico to “Colombia 20 years ago.” Most of that criticism questioned whether the analogy was appropriate or whether the statement was an unnecessary affront to a close U.S. ally, the Mexican government of Felipe Calderón. But the more significant part of Clinton’s comments was her enthusiastic praise for Plan Colombia—the massive U.S. military aid package started by her husband in 1999—and her insistence on the need “to figure out what are the equivalents” for other regions, particularly Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
WikiLeaks XX: Chavez — First Citgo, Now Burger King?
Venezuela tests the fast-food waters. Expansion to U.S. unlikely though because it’s subsidized by the government.
Iran’s Adventures in Latin America
As the United States continues to isolate Iran over its nuclear program, the Islamic regime is engaging in a foreign policy counter-attack with profound strategic consequences. The theater of strategic warfare between the United States and Iran has expanded well beyond the Middle East.From sub-Saharan Africa to Latin America, Iran is selling arms, offering aid and investments, and otherwise establishing a new pattern in south-to-south relations as it battles what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls “Western arrogance.”
Is Chavez Following Iran Down the Radioactive Brick Road?
It might be easier to talk Venezuela off the nuclear-weapons ledge if the U.S. weren’t so intent on filling the coffers of its own nuclear-weapons industry.
Oil Nationalism in Latin America
Latin America is endowed with 132 billion barrels of “proven” oil. Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador have significant reserves and strong state involvement in the exploration and production of oil through their nationalized companies PetrÛleos de Venezuela (PdVSA), Petrobras, Pemex, and Petroecuador, respectively. There have been several notable legal developments this year in all four nations, which will have consequences for U.S. energy policy and thus its relations with oil providers overseas.