{"id":3684,"date":"2019-11-01T12:48:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T12:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vricmonitor.org\/vric-alliance-strengthens-in-wake-of-the-non-aligned-summit-in-azerbaijan\/"},"modified":"2024-08-21T16:58:51","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T16:58:51","slug":"vric-alliance-strengthens-in-wake-of-the-non-aligned-summit-in-azerbaijan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vric.securefreesociety.org\/es\/vric-alliance-strengthens-in-wake-of-the-non-aligned-summit-in-azerbaijan\/","title":{"rendered":"VRIC ALLIANCE STRENGTHENS IN WAKE OF THE NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT IN AZERBAIJAN"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Over the past two months, Latin America has been experiencing a series of political upheavals akin to the type of unrest occurring in the Middle East. On opposite sides of the globe, both regions share a close relationship with the VRIC and similar symptoms of instability fueled by the presence of external state actors. While Nicol\u00e1s Maduro claims that the Latin American uprisings are part of a master plan by the Foro de S\u00e3o Paulo-\u00a0a regional, political propaganda forum-\u00a0he deflects from the role and potential responsibility of VRIC nations behind the regional instability.\u00a0<\/p>

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At the end of September, Diosdado Cabello, the Venezuelan regime party leader, took a trip to North Korea while Maduro and Tareck El Aissami visited Russia. The following week, the protests in Ecuador began and a Russian delegation visited Venezuela. Russia\u2019s physical presence in the region matches their virtual presence, with alleged cyber interference and manipulation in the ongoing Chilean protests and possible meddling in Bolivia\u2019s fraudulent election.<\/p>

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At the moment, Russia continues to be the most forward-facing VRIC nation in Latin America.\u00a0However, Iran is quietly forging closer diplomatic ties in the region, namely with Mexico. Iran\u2019s renewed diplomatic influence in the region will be evident if it can avoid the detention and extradition of Ali Akhbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Iran\u2019s supreme leader wanted by Argentine authorities for his role in the 1994 AMIA attack. The Macri government has made one last attempt to seek justice for the AMIA attack by requesting cooperation from the Azerbaijan government to apprehend Valayati if he attends an upcoming summit in Baku.\u00a0<\/p>

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Azerbaijan recently hosted high-level representatives of VRIC nations for the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)\u00a0in late October. At the Summit, Russia expressed its intention to expand cooperation with Latin America; Iran\u2019s President Hassan Rouhani met personally with many ALBA leaders and expressed solidarity with Cuba against the U.S.; and North Korea made an appearance,\u00a0as well.<\/p>

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On behalf of Bolivia- then Foreign Minister- Diego Pary attended the NAM Summit and met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. Meanwhile, in Bolivia, Evo Morales\u2019 regime engaged in massive election fraud, later, confirmed by the Organization of American States. Evo Morales, who is now in Mexico, resigned as president but not before provoking internal chaos to spill onto the streets of Bolivia.\u00a0<\/p>

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Bolivia is a critical node in the VRIC network in Latin America. From space to nuclear to illicit activity, Bolivia has served as a logistical hub for external state and non-state actors in South America. It remains to be seen if the transition away from Evo Morales will bring stability back to Bolivia, but it is clear that the Bolivians have dealt the first major blow against VRIC influence in Latin America.\u00a0<\/p>

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