Lucas Koerner — UNASUR and CELAC Slam Renewal of US Sanctions Decree against Venezuela

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) pledged their firm support for Venezuela Friday in response to the Obama administration’s renewal of an executive order branding Venezuela an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security and authorizing the application of future sanctions.…

“The renewal of U.S. unilateral measures against Venezuela is a disappointment for the 12 UNASUR member states because it violates the principle of non-intervention, as agreed upon at the Ministerial Meeting held on March 9, 2015,” stated the South American regional bloc via its official Twitter account.

The CELAC– which represents all states in the hemisphere with the exception of the US and Canada– likewise expressed its backing for the South American nation, according to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. 

nsnbc

UNASUR and CELAC Slam Renewal of US Sanctions Decree against Venezuela

Lucas Koerner, Venezuelanalysis

Glenn Greenwald — Maybe Obama’s Sanctions on Venezuela are Not Really About His “Deep Concern” Over Suppression of Political Rights

And just coincidentally, Venezuela happens to have large oil reserves.

Who is isolated here?

As Weisbrot notes, every country in the hemisphere except for the U.S. and Canada have united to oppose U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

I guess the rest of the Western Hemisphere is illiberal and subject to regime change, too, because the US version of liberalism is the sine qua non of human rights.

The Intercept

Maybe Obama’s Sanctions on Venezuela are Not Really About His “Deep Concern” Over Suppression of Political Rights
Glenn Greenwald

Telesur — Ecuador Leaves US-Backed Military Organization

Who lost Latin America?

Ecuador has decided to voluntarily leave the Inter-American Defense Board (IDB), affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), in order to prioritize cooperation with the South American Defense Council. 

The announcement came on Friday with a statement from the Organization of American States (OAS) that said after taking the necessary steps, as of February 20, 2015 Ecuador was no longer a member of the IDB. 

“Ecuador ratifies its support for the development of a new security (system) where regional interests take priority through organizations such as the South American Defense Council, which is part of the UNASUR system,” said a statement by the Ecuadorean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Part of UNASUR’s mandate involves promoting peace in the region and accordingly has rejected recent efforts to destabilize Venezuela. 

Increasingly, the countries of Latin America have been focusing on regional development and integration, a departure from the policies of the region’s governments in the 20th century, which sought closer ties with the United States....

Many of the military dictatorships that once ruled over the countries of the region had their military officers receive training at the U.S. Army School of the Americas. SOA Watch has accused many graduates of having committed human rights violations.

Blowback.

Telesur
Ecuador Leaves US-Backed Military Organization

Telesur — UNASUR Rejects US Destabilization Efforts in Venezuela

The Union of South American Nations expresses its support for Venezuela’s government following an attempted coup.

The secretary-general of the Union of South American Nations, Ernesto Samper, declared Friday that, “Every member state of UNASUR, without exception, rejects any destabilization efforts in Venezuela.” 

The secretary-general of the regional integration body is visiting Venezuela in the wake of a thwarted coup attempt, which has been proven to have had links to the United States. Venezuela also revealed that its North American neighbor has issued more than 50 interventionalist actions in Venezuela this year alone...

Telesur
UNASUR Rejects US Destabilization Efforts in Venezuela