Venezuela, a member of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting countries), is one of the world's largest exporters of crude oil. It's the LARGEST in the Western Hemisphere. In 2007, it was the seventh-largest net oil exporter in the world. (1)
Remember back in Dec 2009 when Venezuela and China signed oil deals? In exchange for Venezuelan oil, China deposited $8 billion in Venezuela's development fund. This money will go towards helping to finance infrastructure projects in Venezuela.
"The economic ties between two countries has spilled to other areas. Chinese companies launched a telecommunications statellite for Venezuela and are working on projects ranging from building a car factory to building a railway system."
"Trade between China and Venezuela reached $10 billion in 2008, nearly three times the trade figure posted in 2003. China is now Venezuela's second largest trading partner, surpassed only by the U.S."
Just recently the Netherlands has granted US military use of it's islands in the Caribbean. This is seen as a threat to Venezuela.
"The government of the Netherlands recently granted the US military use of its islands in the Caribbean, with the excuse that this is to help in the “war against drugs”. In reality, this is a direct threat to the Chavez government in Venezuela."
"In the Dutch media articles have appeared about the “war-mongering” president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, who is “preparing a war against Colombia”. Now Chávez has accused the Netherlands of supporting aggression against Venezuela, because the Netherlands has given permission to the American armed forces to use the military bases on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curaçao"
"In the media Hugo Chávez, as always, has been presented like some “crazy populist”, and of course the “civilised Netherlands” are presented as being totally innocent."
"Later Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch minister of foreign affairs, said the American military were on Aruba and Curaçao, as part of the “war against drugs”. He remains silent about what is really happening on Aruba and Curaçao."
"Authors such as Noam Chomsky and Eva Golinger have pointed out in different articles that the so-called “war against drugs” has nothing to do with any battle against drug smuggling, but has been used for other causes such as fighting against guerrilla movements and the spying of other countries. Since the start of the “war against drugs” there has only been more smuggling and consumption of drugs."
"The fact that the Netherlands are participating in this is quite normal, because the Dutch government has a tradition of supporting American imperialism. After Britain the Netherlands are the biggest ally of the U.S. in Western Europe. The cabinet of Prime Minister Balkenende gave political support to the invasion of Iraq that was based completely on lies. Now the Netherlands have troops in Afghanistan, officially to rebuild the country, but in practice to prop up the corrupt regime of Karzai."(2)
(1) Venezuela energy data, statistics and analysis
(2) US threatens Venezuela. Netherlands has granted US military use of its islands in the Caribbean
My thoughts: While Russia and China have quietly been making deals to obtain their energy needs, the US goes around like macho guys waging bloody wars to achieve the same thing. The international community views the recent move of US military opening bases close to Venezuela as the US planning to destabilize Hugo Chavez's regime. Of COURSE the US wants a "pro-American" leader in Venezuela who will support US "interests" ($$$) in the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment