Iran-Venezuela Ties Strategic Knots: Columbia Inks U. S. Deal - Chavez Threatens War

 The U. S. is carefully watching Iran’s growing relationship with Venezuela as two of the most unstable heads of state scheme and connive.

 Chavez has been having a conniption fit over the Columbis-U. S. military deal. Colombia says it has finalized an agreement with the United States allowing Washington to use its military bases to track drug-runners.  Chavez said last weekend “Venezuelans should prepare for war.”

Colombia said Friday, “This agreement reaffirms the commitment of both parties in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism.”

Iran, in addition to its nuclear weapons program is looking for strategic depth, and Venezuela fits Iran’s needs nicely.

Chavez and Ahmadinejad, are both strong critics of the United States. Chavez supported Ahmadinejad, during protest following Iran’s election in June and allegations of vote-rigging.

In addition to the bluster there is the substance of 29 agreements between the two countries. Those encompass business, finance and military cooperation, and the joint investments believed to total $20 billion.

They include joint ventures in oil exploration, for a petrochemical and steel company and for an auto manufacturing plant in Venezuela. Poor farmers in Venezuela can now buy a tractor called the Veniran, built in the country with Iranian technical support.

In April the pair launched a binational bank with $200 million of initial capital and a goal of $1.2 billion with each country contributing half. The bank is supposed to finance projects of mutual benefit to both. It will be based in Venezuela and likely offers a way for Iran to sidestep sanctions.

Sanction-busting may be a major Iranian motive for most of its deals with Chavez.  Joint ventures and the purchase of Venezuelan enterprises allow Iran to do business with U.S. companies and even within the United States, for instance:

• Iran’s purchase of Corpbanca C.A. in May 2008 as a critical step that enabled Iran to move funds around the United States;
• The two signed a memorandum of understanding on military cooperation. Iranian military advisers have been embedded with Venezuelan army units since 2006.

U.S. Army field manuals that formed the basis of Venezuelan military doctrine in the past have been burned, Myers said. Asymmetric warfare as practiced by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in Iraq, and through the support of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, is now Venezuela’s official military doctrine.

Israeli suspects Venezuela supplying uranium for Iran’s nuclear program, although it will not comment publicly on the matter.

Venezuela has an estimated 50,000 tons of good grade unmined uranium deposits. Iran is working with Venezuela on the development of strategic minerals. As a result Venezuela conceivably could mine uranium for Iran.