President Ali has to control what his officials say and do

Dec 31, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – The biggest winner in St Vincent on the 14^th December was not Guyana or Venezuela. The “Argyle Declaration for Dialogue and Peace” represented a victory of regionalism demonstrating that Latin America and the Caribbean could take care of its own affairs.

The key figures in that victory were the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and the President and Foreign Minister of Brazil. It was they who brokered and acted as interlocutors for the talks, showing that dialogue, rather than a show of force, could ensure peace within the region.

Brazil, however, must now be ruing its involvement in this matter. Following the issuance of the Argyle Declaration, Guyana, in one of the dumbest political decisions ever made has allowed a British warship to undertake a mission into its waters.

This decision amounts to a flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of the Argyle agreement. It has led, naturally, to a complaint by Venezuela and its decision to counter the warship gambit with its own defensive military exercise.

The Argyle agreement which had been so carefully and skillfully negotiated in St. Vincent on 14^th December is now thrown into confusion. Guyana has openly violated its spirit and letter, as has Venezuela’s response to Guyana’s mistake.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has been forced to issue a statement diplomatically castigating Guyana. In a tone of exasperation and frustration, Brazil has had to lecture Guyana to the effect that military demonstrations of support – a clear reference to the presence of the British vessel in Guyana – must be avoided so that the ongoing dialogue process, initiated by the Argyle agreement, can produce results.

The statement is a clear indication to Guyana that its actions in permitting the British vessel to come to Guyana was counterproductive to the decisions taken at Argyle. Brazil noted that both Guyana and Venezuela had agreed to cooperate to avoid incidents that could lead to an escalation of the situation – a clear reference that the presence of the warship had the potential to escalate tensions.

But in an absolutely arrogant defense of its decision one local Foreign Service official was quoted as saying that only Guyana will determine what it does in its territory. This official misses entirely the point.

No one is questioning Guyana’s sovereign right. Guyana at all times has the right to excise sovereign decisions as to what happens in its territory. But in so doing, it has to be prudent and not take actions that can aggravate tensions and violate agreements into which it has entered.

Guyana does have the right to invite any military vessel to its country. But it has to be cognizant that in the context of the present situation and in conformity with the Argyle agreement that the presence of a British warship at this time, and one which it has been reported is here in solidarity with Guyana, can have one effect and one effect only: the escalation of tensions between Guyana and Venezuela.

The exercise of a country’s sovereign rights does not mean that any invitation should be accommodated. Suppose, Russia, a country with which Guyana has relations, asks to send a vessel to Guyana for friendly exercises. Given Guyana’s stance on the use of force in relations between states, would Guyana have allowed that request? It is not in Guyana’s interest to do so, regardless of its right to do so.

Fortunately, the President of Guyana has taken a conciliatory tone, no doubt seeking to minimize the damage caused by the presence of the warship. He has indicated that no other country has anything to fear from activities within Guyana. He has said that Guyana eschews aggressive acts against others. And President Ali has even skillfully extended an olive branch by sending greetings to the people of Venezuela.

What President Ali has done is smart statesmanship and shrewd diplomacy, as part of his government’s damage control measures. What was written by the Foreign Ministry official belies flattering categorization in diplomatic parlance.

The lesson here, and the lecturing that Guyana has been subjected to, is as a consequence of diplomatic inexperience, and perhaps the manner in which decisions are made within the government. If the government had been more experienced it would have consulted widely before it took the decision to accommodate the British warship’s presence.

The Ali administration has been suckered by western imperialism. The United States and Britain see themselves as the policemen of Caribbean disputes. They want to be able to manipulate relations in the hemisphere. They do not wish for the region to do what was done in the run-up to and at Argyle: finds ways of resolving its own disputes.

Brazil took a pro-active stance as soon as Venezuela announced its intended referendum. It rallied its troops to the border with Venezuela thus signaling its concern over a possible invasion of Guyana. It called for both sides not to do anything to inflame tensions. Through President Lula it sought to diffuse tensions by promoting dialogue. Its efforts have been despoiled by Guyana’s decision to permit a warship to enter its waters.

Brazil has always been a counterpoint to Venezuela’s aggression against Guyana. Possibly the only reason why Venezuela has never invaded Guyana is because of the stance that Brazil has always taken in relation to the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.

Whether Brazil will continue to play that role following Guyana’s thoughtless decision to have a British warship in Guyana at this time, is left to be seen. The damage has been done and it is left to the President to advise his subordinates to be careful with what they say in the circumstances.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• Argyle Declaration, control, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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