{"id":3688,"date":"2019-06-01T12:55:42","date_gmt":"2019-06-01T12:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vricmonitor.org\/june-2019\/"},"modified":"2024-08-21T18:40:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T18:40:36","slug":"june-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vric.securefreesociety.org\/es\/june-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"JUNE 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The first fissure in the VRIC alliance is potentially emerging as Russia negotiates with the U.S. its position on Venezuela. The recent news that Russia\u2019s state defense contractor Rostec is reportedly reducing its personnel in Venezuela has prompted speculation of a Russian withdrawal of support to Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. Hanging in the balance are\u00a0Venezuela\u2019s Interim\u00a0President Juan Guaid\u00f3\u2019s efforts to find a solution to transition to free and fair elections. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov holds talks with his Colombian counterpart Carlos Trujillo about the crisis in Venezuela after earlier talks in May with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.<\/p>

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As Russia possibly\u00a0recedes, China aggressively pursues initiating the region\u2019s first 5G networks next year through its controversial tech company Huawei, moving around the company\u2019s recent ban in the United States. China is currently working with Mexico, Argentina, and potentially, Brazil and Colombia to build telecom infrastructure in Latin America. Even in Venezuela, Huawei is working with the Maduro regime to bring a 4G wireless network to the country as the PRC increases its humanitarian support to Venezuela through two additional shipments of medical supplies in May.<\/p>

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Turkey has continued to increase its diplomatic engagement with Latin America, inaugurating a new Paraguayan embassy in Ankara on May 2nd, followed by a visit to Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala in mid-May by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Turkey\u2019s burgeoning relationship with Iran has introduced a new actor to Latin America, Azerbaijan. While Iran keeps a low profile in the region, Azerbaijan\u2019s recent diplomatic overture to South America and Mexico potentially provides another avenue for the Islamic Republic to advance its proxy networks in the region.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Following the failed civil-military uprising on April 30th led by Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaid\u00f3, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro increasingly relies on the VRIC alliance and associated illicit networks to remain in power. A\u00a0new report<\/a> published by the National Defense University and IBI Consultants outlines Venezuela\u2019s transnational illicit network and criminal typologies that are propping up the Maduro regime in what the author calls the \u201cBolivarian Joint Criminal Enterprise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

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The smuggling of two of Venezuela\u2019s most important commodities, oil and gold, are part of the transnational illicit network propping up the Maduro regime by feeding other Bolivarian members, Cuba and Bolivia, and VRIC allies, namely Turkey. Meanwhile, the U.S. and regional allies are cracking down on corrupt Venezuelan officials tied to illicit activities in the Dominican Republic and Spain.<\/p>

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Cuba continues to use \u201cmedical diplomacy\u201d<\/em> to spread its network throughout the region, as a new report describes Cuban doctors speaking out against the \u201chealthcare missions\u201d from Havana. Lastly, Bolivia has recently militarized its nuclear program through a new agreement between the Bolivian Armed Forces and its nuclear agency, ABEN, as the state-owned telecommunications company, Entel, simultaneously announced that in August the company will use its own fiber-optic cable passing through Peru to the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>

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VENEZUELA AID TRACKER<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0United States<\/a><\/strong><\/td>$76 million dollars<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Argentina<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Help unit<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Canada<\/a><\/strong><\/td>$39 million dollars<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Chile<\/a><\/strong><\/td>17 tons of food & medical supplies<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0China<\/a><\/strong><\/td>200 tons of medicine & supplies<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0EU<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\u20ac65 million euros<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Germany<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\u20ac5 million euros<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Iran<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Unspecified pledge & medical aid<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Italy<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\u20ac2 million euros<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0New Zealand<\/a><\/strong><\/td>$500,000 dollars<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Palestine<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Surgical team<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Russia<\/a><\/strong><\/td>335 tons of food & medical supplies<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Spain<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\u20ac2 million euros<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Sweden<\/a><\/strong><\/td>$7 million dollars<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Taiwan<\/a><\/strong><\/td>$500,000 dollars<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0Turkey<\/strong><\/td>Pledged, but none specified<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0UAE<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Dh10 million<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0UK<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\u00a0\u00a36.5 million pounds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>