James Mattis: Latin American countries selling out their sovereignty to Russia, China

Washington Times ^ | August 17, 2018 | Martin Arostegui

[CondoleezzaProtege]

A Chinese space force in Argentina, Russian control of Venezuelan gas and South American armies equipped with the latest Chinese and Russian hardware. Until recently, it might have sounded like the plot of a geopolitical thriller in a region once considered America’s backyard.

But this is what Defense Secretary James N. Mattis faced on his visit this week to several South American nations, where economic and military posturing by Beijing and Moscow has been on the rise for the past decade.

Analysts say Chinese loans in recent years have allowed authoritarian leaders to consolidate power in Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, and have separately generated corruption scandals that brought down the presidents of Ecuador and Argentina.

Moscow is reported to have sold more than $11 billion in Russian military equipment to Caracas, including Su-30 fighter jets, Mi-35 attack helicopters, T-72 tanks and highly advanced surface-to-air missile systems.

Despite Venezuela’s worsening economic crisis, which has collapsed the nation’s currency, caused widespread food shortages and triggered a massive flood of refugees to neighboring Colombia, Russia is stepping up its military support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

“I'm willing to work with you to strengthen the exchange between both countries," wrote President Xi Jinping to Maduro - Telesur TV (May 23, 2018)

In his message, Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that Nicolas Maduro’s work as the head of state will continue to contribute to the development of strategic partnership between the two countries. - Kremlin.Ru (May 21, 2018)

"I hope we can meet here soon. You should know that Venezuela is your home," Maduro wrote to Putin. Sputnik News (Mar 17, 2015)

The late Hugo Chavez...

[2ndDivisionVet]

What happened to the Monroe Doctrine?

[Pearls Before Swine]

Well, why shouldn’t they sell out their sovereignty? Anything for cash on the barrelhead. We’ve shown how it is done.

Clinton did a pretty good job of it in his term (classified tech released as “dual use technology” in exchange for campaign contributions), and Obama tried to submerge our sovereignty with un-approved quasi-treaties (e.g, Paris economic agreement, various UN actions and contributions, Agenda 21 type environmental regulations).

[Afterguard]

My question as well. The answer is likely 56-60 years of feckless Presidential Administrations. Invoking the Monroe Doctrine now, against Russia and/or China may lead to real problems. But it has to be done or the bastards will be on our doorstep soon. Mexico is next.

[Reno89519]

To some limited extent, I say let Russia waste it’s money on these sh1th013 countries. Better them than us.

[Reno89519]

Yeah, if we had kept to the Monroe doctrine, we should have long ago occupied these sh1th013 countries, kicked the locals out, and resettled them as ours. Imagine the changed world if we had kept Cuba?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Or the Philippines on China’s doorstep.

[Truthoverpower]

None of the army crap matters with the big boys
With nukes there will only be machinations and talk
We just take out savages now and don’t talk about it

[fini]

It doesn't really matter to those countries.

They just declare bankruptcy or have a revolution and declare all past obligations "null and void." They've done it before and they'll do it again.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Stick it to the gringos. Nothing else. It’s not like Russia/China peddle more freedom. Combine that with corruption our enemies can fish in troubled waters

[litehaus]

“What happened to the Monroe Doctrine?”

Long ago it suffered from a bad case of carteritis, and finally, Obamamification...terminal...!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks CondoleezzaProtege.

[Lurkinanloomin]

That’s funny, because we’re selling out our sovereignty to Latin Americans.........

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Long ago it suffered from a bad case of carteritis, and finally, Obamamification...terminal...!

Yup we were lulled into a deep sleep and the Rusians/Chinese milked it.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Ping from Caravan post on Venezuela