Regardless of their political differences, many Brazilians believe that the Bush administration's expanding military support for Colombia is only the tip of a more ambitious long-term strategy to gain direct control over oil and other natural resources in South America. The Bush administration is backing what Brazilians perceive as a conservative government in Colombia, as well as signing a free-trade agreement recently with Chile and building a stronger U.S. military and economic presence in other Andean countries with substantial energy, mineral and forest resources.
Brazilian foreign policymakers are concerned that it won't be long before American corporations start to encroach on the outer frontiers of the Amazon River Basin. If Chavez were to be replaced by a U.S.-backed center-right regime in Venezuela, Brazil's sense of encirclement would increase. As a result, da Silva likely will do whatever he can to help his friend Chavez, in defense of what he perceives as Brazil's paramount geopolitical interest in the region: to contain American expansionism.***
"This resolution is telling these people (the strikers) that they have to obey government orders and resolutions aimed at restarting the oil industry," a court spokesman told Reuters. But it was not immediately clear whether striking oil workers would obey the court. Strike leaders, including dissident PDVSA managers, have said they will stay out until the president resigns. Chavez has refused to step down and has vowed to break the strike. [End]