Bolivarian Revolution's Struggle for Independence against US Influence in Latin America
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In an exclusive chat with People's Dispatch, Carlos Ron, Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister, façade of the Simón Bolívar Institute for Peace and Solidarity Amongst Peoples, calls out claims of the Chavista movement's decline as flawed. Instead, he argues, the movement thrives due to the right-wing's desperation to terrorize them.
During the conversation with Zoe Alexandra, Ron touches upon the political aspirations of the far-right opposition in Venezuela, the nation's foreign policy that seeks to free itself from U.S. domination, and the resilience of Chavismo.
Read the full interview, lightly edited for clarity, below:
ZA:The US government has engaged in negotiations with the Maduro government. But, at the same time, it can't forget about its acknowledgment of Juan Guaidó, because then that would give the actual government control over the government assets. And the same goes for England, with a lengthy lawsuit to allow Venezuela to control their gold reserves, used to fund their pandemic effort.
The only thing keeping these gold reserves hostage was the UK's insistence on continuing to recognize Juan Guaidó as the rightful president.
It's this Catch-22, where they acknowledge a government's ability to conduct elections, which they'll then deem as fraudulent. They're constantly dancing back and forth between what's acceptable to them and what's not.
The Edmundo Gonzálezes, the Maria Corina Machados, the Juan Guaidós are the puppets of what the US wants to impose in the region. But what is their true political project for Venezuela? Who do they represent, and what are they trying to create in the country?
CR: The platform that President Maduro presented was a collective effort, open for the masses to participate. The seven transformations President Maduro campaigned on were the direct result of these discussions.
González's program, on the other hand, is a privatization scheme that's fundamentally neoliberal. When you consider Venezuela's sizable oil reserves, a crucial component in warfare, it's clear that foreign powers seek control over these resources.
ZA: Can you discuss Bolivarian foreign policy? What role has Venezuela played in the region?
CR: The US government's antipathy towards Venezuela's foreign policy can be traced back to as early as the year 2000 when the Bolivarian Revolution sought to enhance Venezuela's independence. The early 2000s were marked by free trade agreements actively promoted by the USA. The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) was a project that aimed to deepen regional dependence on U.S. markets. However, Venezuela sought to counter this by promoting cooperation with other nations in a more equitable setting.
The first effort in this regard was the revival of OPEC, an organization that hadn’t convened in nearly two decades. President Chavez stepped up to visit leaders such as Muammar Gadhafi, Saddam Hussein, among others, to agree on a joint policy to re-value oil prices. The increase from USD 7 to 100 per barrel was then utilized to fund the social programs patched during the revolution.
With a multipolar world on the rise, Venezuela also actively engaged in regional organizations like Mercosur (a South American economic bloc) and UNASUR (a union of South American nations). Furthermore, Venezuela had a hand in creating ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas), a political space that proposed a different logic for free trade agreements, focusing on complementary economies and solidarity. Finally, Petrocaribe was launched, providing oil to Caribbean basin nations at favorable rates, allowing countries to invest in their social programs and development without bending to economic constraints.
Overall, Venezuela has always strived to build alliances that promote sovereignty and independent development.
ZA: What is Chavismo? Who represents Chavismo today, and what are its various components? Is it true that this movement is dwindling?
CR: Chavismo is a diverse coalition rooted in several generations and ideological backgrounds. There is the generation from the '70s and '80s that fought to propagate socialism amidst the Cold War; the generation that seized power in '99 and rebelled in '92 against neoliberal policies; and the current generation of youth who have either experienced progress during the revolution or felt the repercussions of the sanctions. Chavismo encompasses human rights defenders, nationalist military that resist imperialism, old left and communist parties looking for new visions, grassroots leaders constructing communes, social movements that advocate for land reform, housing projects, technological advancements, moral organizations, and ecological movements.
Despite protests from the opposition, Chavismo isn't weak, but rather undergoing transformative growth. Since the elections, there's been an increase in terrorism, intimidation, and murder targeting grassroots leaders, especially women. Fascist groups continue to attack schools, party centers, symbols of the revolution, and religious symbols, aiming to weaken the movement. The opposition seeks to take control over all aspects of the country, including eliminating the legacy of President Chavez and Bolivar. This movement is far from faltering. Instead, it is united by a shared vision, putting in continuous work to ensure the future prosperity of the nation.
- The Deputy Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Carlos Ron, discusses the political aspirations of the far-right opposition in Venezuela, suggesting that they are puppets of foreign powers, particularly the United States, who seek control over Venezuela's oil reserves.
- In the early 2000s, President Chavez, as part of the Bolivarian Revolution, aimed to enhance Venezuela's independence and countered free trade agreements promoted by the USA with cooperative agreements with other nations. One such move was the revival of OPEC and negotiations with leaders like Muammar Gadhafi to revalue oil prices.
- Chavismo, a diverse coalition rooted in various generations and ideological backgrounds, is not dwindling but undergoing transformative growth. Despite protests from the opposition and increasing instances of terrorism, intimidation, and murder targeting grassroots leaders, the movement remains united by a shared vision, working towards ensuring the future prosperity of the nation.
