The meeting of dialogue on the crisis in Venezuela held on January 7 in Montevideo (capital of Uruguay) has been quite a failure. 

The situation in Venezuela, in the meantime, seems to have entered a stalemate, with the two sides, Government and opposition firm on their respective positions.

The appointment of Montevideo was convened by Mexico and the host country, with the purpose of promoting a negotiated and agreed exit to the crisis caused around Venezuela, from the self-proclamation as President "in charge" of the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó.

The countries convening the meeting stated that the diplomatic initiative was intended to be "a peaceful and democratic alternative that favours dialogue", and that its main objective was to avoid: "an escalation of violence", in a clear reference to the evident danger that the situation ends up in an induced civil war followed by a subsequent foreign military intervention.

The summit was joined by 8 governments of the European Union (Germany, Spain, France, Holland, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom and Sweden, plus Ecuador and 14 nations of the Association of Caribbean Countries (Caricom).

It should be noted that the EU had not reached a common position on this issue with 24 of its members recognising the self-proclaimed President "in charge", and 4 reaffirming the legitimacy of the Government of Nicolás Maduro.

The concrete result of the meeting has been a declaration demanding new credible presidential elections "within a reasonable period of time", and that the Venezuelan Government allow the "humanitarian aid" (currently at the border on the Colombian side) worth 20 million dollars from the United States into the country. Likewise, the group convened a new meeting during the month of March to evaluate the situation.

The declaration, which basically reflects the demands of the EU majority, and actually is a clear violation of the sovereignty and independence of Venezuela and an open interference in its internal affairs, prompted the rejection of Ecuador, the delegation of Caricom and Mexico (whose Foreign Minister said that the declaration violates the principles contained in the country’s Constitution on the subject of foreign policy).

The meeting counted with the consent of the Government of Caracas, the statement of the opposition leader that the only thing to talk about was how Maduro would leave, and Donald Trump’ declaration, always true to his style, that "there is nothing to negotiate" about Venezuela.

 

The conflict around Venezuela has had an area of ​​special relevance in the field of international relations, and has set a dangerous precedent: Immediate recognition by the US and the so-called Lima Group (14 Latin American countries), of the self-proclaimed President Guaidó, breaking the constitutional order, ignoring the rest of the powers of the State (Legislative, Judicial, Electoral and Constituent Assembly) and making a constant call to the military to rebel.

The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, convened by the US that hoped to issue sanctions against the Government of Caracas, became a tense exchange of accusations, and reproaches by China and Russia to interventionism of the US in the South American country. However the two countries did not need to resort to their right to veto, since the majority of the members of the Council rejected the North American proposals.

During the meeting the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza, said: “We are not talking about the US being behind the coup. The US is in front of it", something confirmed days later by news from AP and the New York Times, which revealed of meetings in Washington, where Guaidó’s attempt to take power by force was organized.

At the same time the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, in view of the characteristics of the conflict, declined any mediating role, and the participation of any of its agencies, in agreement to the UN Charter.

For their part, France, Great Britain, Germany and Spain gave President Maduro a period of 7 days to call "credible" presidential elections, which of course was rejected by the Venezuelan authorities as a coarse interference and ultimatum.

In the end 24 EU countries recognized Guaidó.

So far, more than 60 governments have recognized him, that is, less than a third of those making up the UN. Despite the silence of the large corporate media, countries in the region such as Mexico, Uruguay, Salvador, Nicaragua, Cuba and the Caricom members, ratified their recognition to the legitimate Government of

Maduro. The same did Russia, China, Turkey and the countries of the African Union.

As a result, the conflict over Venezuela in the international arena also appears to have come to a standstill.

Other significant aspects of the battle for Venezuela have to do with financial issues and operations sold for "humanitarian”. While the US Government decided to freeze the assets and intervention of the US subsidiary of PDVSA (Petroleo de Venezuela SA), and making it available to the self-proclaimed President, Great Britain joined in the US by freezing 1 billion in gold, owned by the National Bank of Venezuela.

Almost at the same time the US was announcing loudly the sending to Venezuela of "humanitarian aid" worth 20 million dollars, which would be equivalent to 0.75 cents per person!

The Government of Nicolás Maduro rejected the shipments, saying they had not requested any aid and added that, on the contrary, what they are requesting is the unblocking of their assets abroad in order to acquire food, medicines and other supplies.

Despite media coverage and political pressure, both the UN and the International Red Cross refused to participate in the announced "humanitarian" operation, since it does not meet any of the requirements established by international law.

Political and social tensions around Venezuela are accumulating, and the failure of diplomatic channels and the sphere of international relations seem to open the door to the plan to seize power by force and, if necessary, through violent means.

The Government of Caracas maintains control of the situation, in the midst of marches and countermarches of support for the Government and against it.

In the US Congress, meanwhile, the Republican and Democratic parties have not reached a meeting point, to back in the legislative chamber the recognition of Guaidó as "President”, immediately granted by Trump.

Both groups agree on "official recognition" but the Democratic majority demands that it expressly prohibit the use of military force, something that Republicans openly reject.