After three days and 35 rounds of secret balloting, neither Venezuela nor Guatemala has secured a United Nations’ Security Council seat reserved for a Latin American nation. Ballot lines have been clearly drawn for sometime, with each state canvassing for votes for several months. Guatemala is predominately backed the United States and its European allies, with isolated support from states in Africa and the Middle East. Venezuela has received the majority of its support from allied South American states, the Caribbean, China , Iran , and Syria . Guatemala’s recognition of Taiwan forced many of latter states to throw support behind Venezuela, fearing Chinese economic retaliation.
However, this election has revolved around the rampant anti-US sentiment found throughout the international community since the US invasion of Iraq and the growing animosity and distain that nations have begun to hold for Venezuela’s incessant meddling.
Venezuela and the Bully Pulpit
Venezuela’s true motivations in securing a United Nations’ Security Council seat lie in its desire to confront the US on the global stage, using the podium offered through such an esteemed position to denounce US foreign policy and its “expansionist agenda.” Additionally, the upcoming Venezuelan presidential elections, due to occur in December, appear far closer than anyone had originally anticipated, with opposition parties united behind one candidate, Manuel Rosales. Throughout the voting, incumbent President Hugo Chavez has remained reserved, failing to proclaim his grandiose denunciations of the US and its international allies, perhaps sensing the changing tide and his deteriorating standing on the international stage.
Moreover, should Venezuela fail to secure a seat, as appears increasingly likely, Chavez’s opponents in Venezuela will use the defeat as evidence of his failed policy agenda. Chavez has spared no expense to win votes, traveling throughout the world and making promises of cheap subsidized oil to foreign governments if they support Venezuela’s campaign. The opposition has argued that the decrepit state of the Venezuelan oil industry, rampant crime and poverty throughout Caracas, and the ever-present government corruption scandals have largely gone unresolved because Chavez continues to sell Venezuelan oil below market price, depriving the state of much needed revenue.
The United States and Its Antipathy to Chavez
The US has viewed the defeat of Venezuela as a significant UN policy goal. Venezuela, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, would have voting rights within the Council. Venezuela’s close relations with both China and Russia and its publicly acknowledge friendships with Iran and North Korea , would create a considerable block of like-minded states, threatening US security agendas. Additionally, all members of the Security Council hold the Security Council Presidency for one month out of the two-year term. The presidency would allow Venezuela an enormous international arena to champion its foreign policy goals, including the support of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Guatemala appears likely to secure the seat, with UN experts predicting that the longer the vote proceeds, the greater the likelihood that neutral states, originally supporting Venezuela, will shift their votes to Guatemala to end the stalemate. Voting is scheduled to recommence on October 25. Should Venezuela lose the seat, its international position as a rising power and its regional position as the dominant force will be diminished significantly, much to the pleasure of the US and its Western European allies.
