The United?States should seriously reconsider its diplomatic stand-off with Venezuela, now extended to its reservations over the recent presidential poll that resulted in a very close victory – less than two per cent – for Nicolas Maduro, successor to the late president Hugo Chavez.
As it is, the Barack Obama administration’s decision not to have a representative at last Friday’s inauguration of President Maduro has placed the US in the same category as the official opposition party of the defeated Henrique Capriles in questioning the validity of the declared results.
In sharp contrast was the overwhelming response by all 33 member nations of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) as well as various delegations from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has assured Maduro in a published message that Britain “looks forward to working with the government and people of Venezuela to strengthen our relationship and deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest”.
In sharp distinction to the sour note publicly struck by Secretary of State John Kerry to withhold recognition of Maduro’s presidency, Hague also alluded to the post-election violence that had erupted and called “on all sides to work together to reduce tensions and to prevent further incidents”.
It is a pity that President Obama should have chosen to extend the poor relations that existed between Washington and Caracas right up to Chavez’s passing last month, despite, that is, the firm assurance given by Maduro, prior to and at his official inauguration, to ensure, as required by the Venezuelan constitution, an “audit of the election results”.
An objective assessment of Venezuela’s politics and related diplomatic initiatives of the past 14 years under Chavez, would reveal the extent to which this oil-rich nation had succeeded, warts and all, in consolidating bonds of friendship among Latin America and Caribbean nations, even as political tension prevailed in Washington/Caracas relations.
With the departure of Chavez, who had further deepened Caracas-Havana ties, and now Maduro as president, Venezuela is far too important a player in this region for Washington to be perceived as being more reluctant than willing to influence a change in relations.
It is understandable that Maduro would have reaffirmed his commitment to the Chavez-initiated and sustained policies he inherited. But the US seems anxious to side with the politics of his opponent and ignored that both Maduro and Capriles had agreed to respect the election audit.
We look forward to enlightend diplomacy that could bring an end the current unhelpful negative relations between Washington and Caracas which ould also affect other nations in this hemisphere.
