Political Implications for the United States in Latin American Race for Security Council Nonpermanent Seat

The two year term for Argentina on the UN Security Council as a nonpermanent seat is coming to a close at the end of the fiscal year and several countries were in contention to replace them. Throughout the race for appointment, both Guatemala and Venezuela have been equally favored. Guatemala was heavily supported by the United States, while Venezuela and the United States have most recently not been on good terms.

In addition, an international news source reported that: “Although Venezuela is a major oil supplier to the United States, ties have deteriorated, particularly since Chavez described Washington as his No. 1 enemy and called President George W. Bush "the devil" in a General Assembly speech in September. Diplomats said that cost him votes.”

Suffice to say this has not helped political or diplomatic relations between the US and Venezuela, therefore promoting the US to strongly campaign for Guatemala to succeed Argentina in the nonpermanent Security Council seat.

The United Nations reported on November 2, 2006, that Panama was named the compromise candidate after “more than two weeks and 47 rounds of voting deadlock in the General Assembly that pitted Guatemala against Venezuela to represent the Latin American and Caribbean region.” Panama was proposed by both Guatemala and Venezuela because: “Both Ministers stressed that Panama was chosen as it was a country with which both nations had close ties.”

The concern for the United States with Venezuela in the nonpermanent Security Council seat was the threat of political uncertainty and lack of control or influence in Latin America by the United States with the force of Venezuela as a voice on the Security Council.

A New York Times article confirms that: “Venezuela’s failure to win the seat, which opens up in January, was a setback for President Hugo Chávez, who saw a seat on the council as another way to further his efforts to establish himself as a leading anti-United States voice on the world stage.” Furthermore, “The Venezuelan leader portrayed the contest as a battle against efforts by President Bush to dominate the United Nations. The Bush administration, for its part, warned that Venezuela would use the Council seat to obstruct international initiatives.”