The Complex Relationship Between Bolivia And Venezuela

Bolivia and Venezuela are two of the six Bolivarian countries, a group of Hispanic American nations whose republican origins are attributed to the ideals of Simón Bolívar and the independence war led by the Venezuelan military in the viceroyalties of New Granada and Peru. Both countries were part of the Spanish Empire and share Spanish as one of their official languages. They are strong allies and supporters of Russia, China, Cuba, Syria, and Iran.

Bolivia and Venezuela have had diplomatic relations since 1883, although these ties were briefly severed in 2019 when the interim government of President Jeanine Áñez broke off relations with the presidency of Nicolás Maduro, recognising Juan Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. Relations were re-established in 2020 when Luis Arce became the constitutional president of Bolivia.

During the presidency of Evo Morales in Bolivia and Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, the two countries enjoyed close relations due to an affinity in ideological matters. Both nations maintained an active participation in the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) until Bolivia's departure from the organisation in 2019. Venezuela has provided various forms of aid to Bolivia, including tractors, heavy machinery, asphalt, airplanes, helicopters, ambulances, computers, vehicles, and motorcycles for the Bolivian Police and presidential security. Venezuela has also financed the renovation of several Bolivian barracks and given initial support to the Bolivia Cambia, Evo Cumple program.

Bolivia and Venezuela's shared history

Bolivia and Venezuela share a history that dates back to the Spanish Empire, when both territories were part of the empire and administered separately. Bolivia, then known as the Province of Charcas or Upper Peru, and Venezuela, then known as the Captaincy General of Venezuela, were brought together under the leadership of Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan military leader who fought for independence from the Spanish. Bolívar's ideals and efforts led to the creation of Gran Colombia, a union of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (Colombia and Panama), the Captaincy General of Venezuela, and Quito (Ecuador).

The shared history of Bolivia and Venezuela is also reflected in their diplomatic relations, which were established on September 14, 1883, during the governments of President Narciso Campero Leyes of Bolivia and President Antonio Guzmán Blanco of Venezuela. Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Ibero-American Community of Nations (CIN). They have also been strong allies and supporters of countries like Russia, China, Cuba, Syria, and Iran.

The relationship between Bolivia and Venezuela was particularly close during the presidencies of Evo Morales in Bolivia and Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Both Morales and Chávez were charismatic leaders who shared similar ideologies and maintained an active participation in the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP). Under their leadership, Venezuela provided significant support to Bolivia, including donations of tractors, heavy machinery, asphalt, airplanes, helicopters, ambulances, and other resources to strengthen Bolivia's agricultural sector and infrastructure.

However, there have also been periods of strained relations between the two countries. In November 2019, the interim government of President Jeanine Áñez in Bolivia broke diplomatic relations with Venezuela, recognizing Juan Guaidó as the interim president instead of Nicolás Maduro. This decision was reversed in November 2020 when the constitutional government of President Luis Arce reestablished relations with Venezuela.

Their membership in the Bolivarian Alliance

Bolivia and Venezuela are both members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a regional bloc that was founded in 2004 by Venezuela and Cuba. The alliance is based on the idea of political and economic integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries. ALBA was conceived by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez as an alternative to the US-led Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

The alliance's main goals are to alleviate poverty and promote socioeconomic reform through trade agreements that meet each country's needs, rather than through neoliberal or free-market economic policies. To that end, the ALBA Bank was created in 2008 to channel money into development projects throughout the region. In 2009, ALBA leaders also agreed to create a regional electronic currency, the sucre, to reduce the use of the US dollar among member countries.

Bolivia, under Evo Morales, joined ALBA in 2006. The other member countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela. Suriname was admitted as a guest country in 2012, and Haiti was granted special status as a permanent member. Ecuador withdrew from ALBA in 2018, and Bolivia's interim government withdrew in 2019 during a political crisis, but the country rejoined following the 2020 Bolivian general election.

In addition to their shared membership in ALBA, Bolivia and Venezuela have a common past as part of the Spanish Empire, and Spanish is one of the official languages in both countries.

The countries' leaders

Bolivia and Venezuela have had strong ties since the 19th century, when both countries were part of the Spanish Empire. Both nations established diplomatic relations on 14 September 1883, during the government of Bolivian President Narciso Campero Leyes and Venezuelan President Antonio Guzmán Blanco. Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Ibero-American Community of Nations (CIN).

Bolivia and Venezuela are also founding members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP), a leftist grouping of Latin American and Caribbean nations started by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Cuban President Fidel Castro in 2004. Bolivia's Evo Morales and Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro are both classic Latin American strongmen and close allies. Morales has long defended the Venezuelan regime against its foreign critics.

However, there are also some differences between the two leaders. Morales gained national prominence in the early 2000s when he led numerous mass marches and strikes to protest government efforts to privatize utilities and tax public employees' salaries. He relied on popular referendums to inform his policies and respected the collective decision-making processes typical of Bolivia's indigenous communities. Morales has also stewarded Bolivia's economy well, and gross domestic product has tripled during his 12 years in office.

On the other hand, Maduro has expanded on Chávez's tactics of consolidating power, jailing dissidents, and neutering Parliament. Maduro has also overseen the country's descent into economic chaos, with Venezuela going from being one of the richest countries in Latin America to one of the poorest. Maduro's government has been described as authoritarian and a dictatorship by multiple sources.

Their economic ties

Bolivia and Venezuela have a long history of economic ties, which have been strengthened by their shared past as former Spanish colonies and their membership in various international organisations.

Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Ibero-American Community of Nations (CIN). They are also founding members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP), a leftist grouping of Latin American and Caribbean nations. However, Bolivia left the organisation in November 2019 during the interim presidency of Jeanine Áñez, but relations were reestablished in November 2020 when Luis Arce became president.

Under the presidency of Evo Morales in Bolivia and Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, the two countries enjoyed narrowed bilateral relations due to an affinity in ideological matters. Venezuela, experiencing an economic boom from high oil prices, cooperated with Bolivia by donating various goods, including tractors, heavy machinery, asphalt, airplanes, helicopters, ambulances, computers, vehicles, and motorcycles for the Bolivian Police and presidential security. Venezuela also financed the renovation of several Bolivian barracks and gave initial support to the "Bolivia Cambia, Evo Cumple" program from 2007 to 2011.

In 2003, Venezuela gave away 11 semi-used military training aircraft Beechcraft T-34 Mentor to Bolivia to strengthen the Bolivian Air Force. In 2006, Venezuela donated two Super Puma Helicopters to equip and strengthen the Bolivian presidential transport. In 2007, Venezuela gave Bolivia 320 new "VENIRAN" brand tractors to develop and strengthen the agricultural sector in the Bolivian rural area. In the same year, Venezuela provided heavy machinery to Bolivia, valued at about $12 million, for the reconstruction of several areas in the Department of Beni affected by natural disasters. In 2009, Venezuela donated 170 ambulances to improve Bolivia's health system, which were distributed among the 87 municipalities of the Department of La Paz.

Despite the strong economic ties, there have been some criticisms and controversies surrounding the donations. For example, the tractors donated by Venezuela were missing their respective ploughs, and several of them ended up in the private hands of mayors, councilors, and other municipal public officials in Bolivia. Additionally, the donation of ambulances to Bolivia sparked harsh criticism from the Venezuelan opposition, as there was a serious shortage of ambulances in Venezuela at the time.

Their differing resources

Bolivia and Venezuela are two countries in South America with a shared history. Both countries were once part of the Spanish Empire and have Spanish as one of their official languages. However, their resources differ significantly.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, with its economy heavily dependent on the petroleum sector. Oil accounts for roughly a third of Venezuela's GDP, around 80% of its exports, and more than half of its government revenues. Venezuela's oil wealth has allowed it to wield its economic power to win friends and influence other countries.

On the other hand, Bolivia's main export is petroleum gas, but its resources pale in comparison to Venezuela's. Bolivia's economy is about one-fifth the size of Venezuela's, and the country ranks among the poorest nations in South America. Bolivia does not have the same economic leverage as Venezuela due to its smaller size and limited natural resources. While Bolivia has other natural resources like coca leaves and lithium, they do not provide the same level of economic power as Venezuela's oil.

The differing resources between Bolivia and Venezuela have influenced their respective economic trajectories and their ability to exert influence in the region. Venezuela's oil wealth has given it greater economic power and leverage in international relations, while Bolivia's more limited resources have constrained its economic growth and influence.

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