Despite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's persistent name-calling of the United States - the "Yankee Empire" and the "biggest menace to our planet" - he has always been willing to supply it with oil. In fact, the trade partnership is extremely important to the Venezuelan energy sector. On average 894,000 barrels of oil come to America each day from Venezuela, making it the fifth largest supplier.
Though this interdependence exists, Chavez has recently threatened to cut off oil exports to the U.S. if there is a military attack stemming from increasing tensions between Venezuela and Colombia, its next-door neighbor. The ties between the two countries are on the rocks after Luis Alfonso Hoyos, the Columbian ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) filed evidence on July 20 that Venezuela is a haven for FARC, a South American Marxist terrorist organization. During a two-hour meeting, Hoyos laid out a series of photos, videos, maps, satellite images and computer documents that Colombia claims show the rebels using Venezuela as a safe haven much the same way they were using Ecuador. Hoyos also presented a list of names of Venezuelan officials who he believes have knowledge of FARC's presence. In total, Hoyos estimates there are some 1,500 FARC members and at least 80 verifiable terrorist camps in Venezuela. These camps provide a safe haven for FARC to organize, train, and prepare explosives. Chavez denied these allegations and on July 22 he broke diplomatic ties with Colombia saying that it was necessary "out of dignity." It has also responded to the tension by placing 1,000 additional troops along the Colombia-Venezuelan border.
Instead of calling for sanctions or military actions against Venezuela, Ambassador Hoyos proposed an international verification committee to examine the facts. "If what is there is only a little school and humble peasants, there would be no problem with an international commission to verify if Colombia's accusation is not true," Ambassador Hoyos argued. In a daily press briefing on July 23, the State Department supported the proposals of Colombia and the international verification commission.
As President Chavez often does, he will likely use these accusations as a rallying point for himself domestically. Throughout his reign, he has consistently sought to limit opposition, through intimidation, close and prosecution of political, media, and religious groups who crtiticize him. Economically, Chavez is also under pressure. While many South American countries' economies race ahead, Chavez's nationalization policies have led to two consecutive years of recession and general contractions of nearly all sectors of the Venezuelan economy.
After 9/11, the United Nations adopted a resolution acknowledging that state sponsorship of terrorism is an international crime. Though Chavez placed the blame of aggression on Colombia, and the United States, providing a safe haven for terrorists is itself an act of war as recognized by the international community. The fact that Venezuela is likely harboring groups such as FARC-who fund themselves by selling cocaine to the United States, Europe, and Latin America and the elite Iranian military force the IRGC-QF, makes the conflict between Colombia and Venezuela more than a neighborly feud; it is a direct challenge to an American ally and our interests in South America.
