It will be interesting to see which side the so called socialists (left wingers, Marxists, anti-imperialists, communists, social democrats, etc.) support on the border controversy. We know which side ‘the right’, the capitalists, support — Guyana.
The world court case on the matter is clear and a ruling is expected some time next year. The right tells Venezuela respect the world Court ruling. The left is silent. This is no different from the position of the left during the anti colonial struggle. The communists and other left in France, Italy, West Germany, UK, Spain, and other Western European countries did not vocally support their communist brethren Cheddi Jagan. They were silent when Jagan was overthrown and when their countries sided with the right against Jagan, and now they are silent again on Guyana. They have a new friend in Maduro and have abandoned an old friend in Guyana.
Venezuela is claiming territory under Guyana control for the last two hundred plus years. Venezuela is not accepting any court ruling because it knows it has no case and is sabre rattling, pushing ahead with its claim for occupation and annexation of almost two thirds of Guyana territory.
Guyana is no match for Venezuela in a military standoff. Who will come to Guyana aid? Will left wing politicians and countries support Guyana or back the new left wing Maduro? Neutrality amidst injustice and bullying is not a position.
The government of both countries claimed or is claiming socialist credentials and have been known to ally with other left partners globally. Both have very fraternal relations with historically accepted socialist countries. Venezuela has been a newcomer, less than two decades, in the cauldron of the left; Maduro has been showing off socialist credentials winning over Russia, China, Cuba and even a few Caribbean leaders. Guyana has been ‘left’ since the independence struggle in the 1950s except briefly when Burnham shifted rightward, embracing imperialism to gain political power, and returned to the left by 1970.
The Caribbean Marxists or leftists or social democrats have not made a definitive statement on the border case. The PPP has traditionally been very close with Russia, China, and other socialist allies. Russia, Cuba, and China, old time traditional left allies of both PNC and PPP administrations, have been silent. They have not even issued a statement calling on Venezuela to pursue a peaceful solution to its claim. China, not America, is the largest investor in Guyana. Those of us on the right calling for greater American investments in and a security alliance with Guyana have been abused as imperialistic. The left don’t want close relations with Washington. The opportunists and left have told us that ‘Pax Americana’ is dead and that China is the future for Guyana. Which world do they live in? Today, USA and the right are strongly supporting Guyana on the border case. America stands between Venezuela and Essequibo. Without Pax Americana, Venezuela would walk over Guyana.
Will the left come out definitively and irreversibly on the side of the world court and Guyana?