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VENEZUELA-POLITICS-DEFENCE-DIPLOMACY
Venezuela Supreme Court annuls opposition bid to re-join defense treaty
CARACAS, July 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Friday
annulled a decision by the opposition-controlled legislature to re-join a
regional defense treaty that could provide a legal framework for foreign
military intervention.
Venezuela’s top court, made up of judges loyal to President Nicolas Maduro,
said the National Assembly’s decision to rejoin the Inter-American Treaty of
Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) on Tuesday had no legal basis.
Maduro’s predecessor and mentor, late president Hugo Chavez, withdrew the
country from the defense pact, which involves 17 countries including the
United States, seven years ago.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Tuesday that re-joining the treaty
would let Venezuela establish “international alliances” to “protect and
defend the people and Venezuelan sovereignty.”
The Supreme Court has annulled every decision taken by the National
Assembly — the only government institution in opposition hands — since
declaring it in “contempt” in 2016.
Venezuela was thrust into a political crisis in January when Guaido
declared himself acting president, in a direct challenge to Maduro’s
authority. He is demanding Maduro step down so that new elections can be
held.
The opposition has branded the socialist leader a “usurper” over his re-
election last year in a poll widely viewed as rigged.
Guaido has since been backed by more than 50 countries, including many of
those in the TIAR.
The TIAR was originally ratified by 23 countries at the start of the Cold
War, but five of those — at the time all under leftist governments — left
in 2012 while Mexico distanced itself in 2004.
Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela left over Washington’s refusal to
take Argentina’s side in 1982 after it invaded the British-ruled Falkland
Islands. It said US inaction meant the defense pact was meaningless.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0947 hrs