Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he may not accept a newly nominated US ambassador to Caracas who sharply criticized the South American nation’s socialist government and its armed forces.
Larry Palmer told a US senator last week that morale was low in Venezuela’s military and that there were “clear ties” between members of Chavez’s government and leftist Colombian guerrillas operating in Venezuela.
“What he said is very serious, we are evaluating it, I’ve almost blocked him from coming,” Chavez said, before a meeting with former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner.
The Venezuelan foreign ministry on Wednesday said it had demanded an explanation from Washington for what is described as “meddling and interventionism” in South America’s top oil exporter, a key supplier of crude to the US.
A US Department of State official said Palmer’s comments were in line with government opinion.
In written replies to questions from Republican Senator Dick Lugar, Palmer said he was “keenly aware of the clear ties” between members of the Chavez government and Colombian rebels.
His comments came at a sensitive moment after Colombia accused Venezuela of tolerating leftist Colombian rebels on its territory — a charge that Caracas denies.
Chavez broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia over the accusations and said he had bolstered military defenses on the border, alleging the neighboring country planned to attack.
In 2008, Chavez expelled then-US ambassador Patrick Duddy in a dispute over US involvement in violent protests in Bolivia. Duddy returned during a period of goodwill after US President Barack Obama took office, but relations have since hardened again.
“The Venezuelan government has been unwilling to prevent Colombian guerrillas from entering and establishing camps in Venezuelan territory,” Palmer said.
He said it was “particularly concerning” that General Henry Rangel Silva had recently been promoted to operational chief of the armed forces.
Silva is one of two Chavez officials and a former minister that the US in 2008 put on its “kingpin” list, accusing them of materially assisting the drug trafficking activities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Asked about Venezuela’s armed forces, Palmer said their professionalism had decreased because of the retirement of many officers and Chavez’s move to let non-commissioned officers transition directly to the commissioned corps.
“Most significantly, there has been a noted preference for political loyalty over professional talent,” Palmer wrote. “Morale is reported to be considerably low, particularly due to politically oriented appointments.”
Palmer said he was concerned that Cuba’s influence within the Venezuelan military would grow.
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