Venezuela stoked a diplomatic feud with Colombia on Monday by accusing its South American neighbor of “lies” and “hypocrisy” in a growing dispute that is threatening trade and regional stability.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s government reacted angrily on the weekend when Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez told his army to prepare for war, a comment widely interpreted as rhetoric but one that still raised passions on both sides.
Venezuela says Uribe is allowing the US government a dangerous foothold in the region by giving its troops access to Colombia’s military bases.
That, says the socialist Chavez, may be a precursor for invading Venezuela. Chavez is backed by fellow leftist leaders in the region.
Bogota denies the charge, saying the military agreement with Washington exists to combat drug traffickers and leftist guerrillas.
Uribe’s government has urged both the UN and the Organization of American States to look into Chavez’s “war threats.”
The spat is unlikely to lead to war, analysts say, but it is fueling tensions on a volatile 2,000km border where both sides have sent extra troops, and has led to a downturn in the two nations’ US$7 billion-a-year bilateral trade.
A statement from Venezuela’s foreign ministry on Monday said the Uribe government’s position was “immoral” and “shows the hypocrisy of the Colombian oligarchy.”
Referring to a Colombian military raid inside Ecuadorean territory last year, it added: “The Uribe government lies, it is responsible for the sole act of war in the recent history of our continent.”
“US access to Colombian bases threatens the peace and stability of the continent,” the Venezuelan statement added.
Since Chavez came to power Venezuela and Colombia have had constant ups-and-downs in their relations.
This latest crisis, analysts say, may be harder to solve, particularly after Chavez’s inflammatory comments on Sunday.
On a live TV event, he ordered his military to prepare for war, just days after sending thousands more soldiers to the border.
Some say Chavez is hyping the Colombia issue as a smokescreen to distract from domestic problems like high inflation, and faltering water and power services.
Venezuelans are skeptical the dispute will lead to war.
“When I was in military service at 17 years old, they told me to train for the war with Colombia. Now I’m 67, and they’re still saying the same nonsense!” said Enrique Torres, a retired former army physical education instructor.
Uribe, ironically, may benefit from the dispute to enhance his popularity and a possible re-election bid next year, analysts say.
The Colombian leader currently is barred from seeking a third consecutive term, but some of his supporters are seeking to change the country’s constitution to allow him to stand in next year’s election.
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