Joe Biden’s stance on Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela leaves Argentine government ‘offside’

Just over two weeks after coming to power, the Joseph Biden administration formalized its first approach to the Nicolás Maduro regime. And this first statement, released Wednesday night by new State Department spokesman Ned Price, leaves in an uncomfortable situation not to mention the “offside” of the government of Alberto Fernández.

On Wednesday night, Price defined Maduro in front of reporters as “A dictator”, refused to contact him as an interlocutor on the future of Venezuela. And he stressed that they continue to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the “interim president” of Venezuela.

While this was evocative in saying that the new administration hoped to work with “partners” and “allies” in the Venezuelan crisis – Price did not name any country – Secretary of State spokesman Antony Blinken, considered the Organization of American States (OAS) Yes to the Lima Group as spaces of “leadership” to continue to “push for a democratic transition in Venezuela” to “further strengthen a regional coalition” that advocates “free and fair elections” in the Caribbean country.

The Fernández government ignores Guaidó, advocates dialogue with Maduro and approved the latest controversial legislative elections imposed by Chavism, of December 6, and which have been condemned by most Western democracies.

In addition, it maintains a confrontation opened with the OAS of Luis Almagro and with the Lima Group. He points out that they are and were instruments of the Trump administration and its plans to invade Venezuela. They claim that former President Mauricio Macri approved them. Plans that have never been really tested. The Biden thing is the continuity of Trump.

Differences

Curiously, the Argentine government has joined the International Contact Group with Venezuela to evade its commitments with that of Lima. But when the Contact Group condemned the legislatures, Argentina he distinguished himself by silence and abstention at the OAS.

This week, the GCI called for transparent elections, Argentina accompanied, but Foreign Minister Felipe Solá stood out with a statement in which he called for Venezuela’s “humanitarian access” to the “blocked” money – he did not specify – so that he can pay for the COVID vaccines from the Covax fund, when it is the Venezuelan opposition that demands a mass vaccination plan for Maduro, who does not have.

The position is so uncomfortable For President Fernández, his position, for example at the UN – where he condemned human rights violations in Venezuela, in accordance with High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet – who last week denied something that is in Classes. These are the conversations that Foreign Minister Andrés Allamand has commented on to seek a more consensual position at the regional level on Venezuela. These negotiations exist. Chile has just joined the contact group. The Argentinian president chose to stress that he did not discuss it with his counterpart Sebastián Piñera. Do foreign ministers work without presidential consensus?

Even so, government sources consulted by Clarín categorically denies that Biden’s position leaves them in a bad state. In addition, they stress that Alberto Fernández is “the president best placed” for a possible dialogue of “mediation” in Venezuela and that for this it is worth remembering – they say here – the Democrat has spoken with some presidents Latin Americans, among which was Argentina. And they are optimistic that this year Alberto F will visit the White House. They believe Washington “understands” Argentina’s position.

The government seeks rapprochement with Washington through coincidences concerning multilateralism and the fight against climate change. But reality prevails and the first differences are starting to emerge. In the care that Biden seeks to maintain in front of the Latinos in Florida who did not vote for him, in the tenacity he promises towards China, and in trade protectionism.

PB