Tired of Regional Critics, Venezuela Looks to Russia and China
Last Thursday, Delcy Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s national Constituent Assembly, chided Mr. Robinson, saying he had "arrived to our country on the wrong foot!" Then, over the weekend, Ms. Rodríguez, Venezuela’s former foreign minister, announced
that the top diplomats from Canada and Brazil had been designated persona non grata.
As its leftist president, Nicolás Maduro, is increasingly regarded as a despot among neighbors in a region
that has shifted politically to the right, Venezuela, once the richest country in South America but now in need of cash, is drawing closer — and becoming more dependent on — Russia and China.
Ms. Rodríguez said the Canadian chargé d’affaires, Craig Kowalik, was being punished for his "permanent, insistent
and rude meddling in the internal affairs of Venezuela." As for the blacklisting of Ambassador Rui Pereira of Brazil, Ms. Rodríguez cited last year’s impeachment of Brazil’s leftist president, Dilma Rousseff, who was replaced by a leader who took a tougher line on Venezuela.
"Russia’s increased role is particularly concerning, given their proven interference in the 2016 U.S. election
and apparent design to disrupt regional politics." The disputes with Canada and Brazil occurred as Venezuela also took aim at Todd D. Robinson Washington’s new top diplomat in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital.
The thinning of the diplomatic corps in Caracas will make it harder for Venezuela’s neighbors to try to broker talks between the government
and the opposition and to persuade Mr. Maduro to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to parts of the country where people are starving.
Venezuela downgraded diplomatic relations with Canada
and Brazil in recent days, after a war of words over the Venezuelan government’s decision last week to ban three influential opposition parties from running candidates in next year’s presidential election.
