José Enrique Arrioja on ABC News Regarding U.S. Boat Strikes in the Caribbean
José Enrique Arrioja on ABC News Regarding U.S. Boat Strikes in the Caribbean
"We may see ramifications throughout the region," said the Americas Quarterly managing editor about the crisis between the U.S. and Venezuela.
In an ABC News interview, José Enrique Arrioja, managing editor of Americas Quarterly, spoke with anchor Alex Presha about tensions between the United States and Venezuela and the effects this crisis can have in other countries in Latin America.
Presha said that Arrioja pointed out that the U.S. military campaign is arguably the largest in the region since the U.S. invasion of Panamá in 1989, which ultimately ended with the surrender of General Manuel Noriega. "Does this feel like history repeating itself in some ways?" asked Presha.
"In some ways, yes," answered Arrioja. "The fact that we're seeing this massive, mighty mobilization of military deployment in the region certainly bring some memories.' He continued, "They sort of give a deja vu for many in the region, especially in Central America and the Caribbean. However, there are big differences, between the situation that we lived in 1989 and what we're seeing today. Whatever the the final resolution of this conflict will be, definitely will establish some parallels between the two situations, but there are key elements that makes this confrontation that we're seeing right now unique, special, because the repercussions are going to be not only specifically related to Venezuela. You pointed out, for example, that this Caribbean strike has also been affecting part of the Pacific, specifically the coast the international waters of Colombia. So we may see ramifications throughout the region. And not only, on those two countries, but also with Mexico and potentially other countries such as Ecuador."
Presha then asked about Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who spoke recently with Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro. "Brazil has been a mediator in this crisis. And not only what we're seeing this year, but in the previous in the previous years as well. President Lula, a left-leaning president, has been a key ally of President Maduro in Venezuela, trying to be sort of like an intermediary between the dialogues, not only with the U.S., but other other countries in the region as well," said Arrioja.
