The Washington Outsider


Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization

Previously published on July 7, 2008

On March 4th of 2008, Columbian military forces crossed the Ecuadorian border to raid a unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). In the process, they allegedly discovered a laptop containing evidence demonstrating the President of Venezuela was financially supporting the rebel group while the conflict escalated when Ecuador and Venezuela sent additional military forces to reinforce their borders. Although the conflict has been resolved, there is still a chance underlying factors could push the region into a larger conflict in the near future if similar situations are not handled properly and the influences, which lead to the military standoff, are not fully addressed. By broadening the scope of these events, the factors generating the conflict can be better understood in terms of an international conflict.

On one hand, Columbian leaders claimed their actions were simply a response to an attack by the FARC group; on the other hand, the Ecuadorian government viewed the strike as a violation of its sovereignty. In all likelihood, the attack against the FARC group was simply an extension of a policy aimed at cracking down on the rebels. In turn, Ecuador's reaction was a legitimate response to a violation of their sovereignty; albeit, the reason they chose to reassert their right of sovereignty so aggressively is part of a broader trend. With FARC attempting to undermine the Columbian government and enabling the drug trade, the United States has actively supported Columbia's efforts to combat the rebel group. Keeping this in mind, Chavez's potential link to FARC only serves to enhance the perception that Venezuela is behaving more and more as a rogue state.

Taking on an aggressive anti-American stance while moving to consolidate power in Venezuela explains Chavez's potential support of FARC as a means of rejecting US influence and undermining US power in Latin America. By using Columbia's apparent violation of Ecuador's sovereignty as means of rebelling against the United States, the President of Venezuela is behaving much like the US and the Soviet Union in the Cold War. While Chavez rose to power in the wake of an economic crisis and vast government corruption, he has attempted to cement his power by characterizing Venezuela's social and political problems as an extension of US influence. On the other hand, Chavez has tried to develop strong alliances with other Latin American nations while he has also supported charitable programs, such as providing low cost heating oil for the poor in the United States through the state owned Citgo Petroleum Corporation, that act as pro-Venezuelan propaganda. As such, he is not necessarily acting as a rogue nation, but rather, attempting to polarize the Western hemisphere with his response to Columbia's military actions representing a proxy conflict between the US and Chavez.

Conflicts, such as the one between the US and Venezuela, are emerging because the dynamics of the world are shifting. During the Cold War, sovereignty was limited by a need to either orient national interests toward the US or USSR while the post-Cold War world brought about a single superpower, leaving the US as the only truly sovereign nation. With the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the United States was posed to usher in an era of international cooperation that would fight global terrorism whether it came from state-less terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda, or a nation engaging in state-sponsored terrorism. Unfortunately, these events only acted as precursor to the post-Iraq invasion era where the actual and perceived power of the US diminished, opening the world to less international cooperation and a push to reassert sovereignty without regard to human or civil rights.

With US military power hindered by the Iraq occupation, anti-Americanism high, and US economic power diminishing, smaller nations have the opportunity to break with the United States. As the US is the largest world consumer and its industrial base has severely shrunk since its pinnacle, increased world demand for energy and goods allows global producers to find alternative markets while consumers do not necessarily have to rely on US producers. High oil prices and Venezuela's position as a top oil producer gives Chavez the opportunity and means to undermine US power while the change in world politics leaves him with little repercussions for his defiant behavior. Moreover, Ecuador's enforcement of its sovereignty is influenced by world events, but the brewing Columbian conflict is a step in a broader rejection of US dominance and a reassertion of national sovereignty on behalf of Chavez.



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      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
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      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
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      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
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