Venezuelan Leader and friend of Jimmy Carter, Hugo Chavez

Ecuador cut off diplomatic ties this week with Colombia, making their position clear in the recent Colombia-Venezuela standoff. Other South American leaders are scrambling to take sides while Panama cautiously awaits the outcome of what appears to be more than just saber-rattling between Uribe and Chavez, the respective presidents of these neighboring nations.

U.S. officials are beginning to fear that the recent buildup of troops could result in political mis-steps that lead to violence. Venezuelan President and regular derider of U.S. policy Hugo Chavez blames the U.S. for the surge in unrest between Ecuador, Venezuela and U.S. ally, Colombia. “It must be said: They, the empire and its lackeys, are war. We are peace. We are the path to peace,” Chavez said in a televised speech, his first since Colombia alleged that documents found in a leftist rebel’s computer show the Venezuelan leader has been supporting Colombian guerrillas for years.

Should the conflict escalate, once can only assume that even more Colombians and Venezuelans will head North to relocate to more politically and economically stable Panama.

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Filed under: News on March 5th, 2008