2005 Mexico and Venezuela diplomatic crisis
Encyclopedia
The 2005 diplomatic crisis between Mexico and Venezuela began after the Fourth Summit of the Americas
where Mexican
President
Vicente Fox
made veiled criticisms of anti-FTAA leaders.
Following Fox's declarations, on November 10, 2005, Venezuela
n President Hugo Chávez
stated in a speech to supporters in Caracas
that he was saddened that "the president of a people like the Mexicans lets himself become the puppy of the empire" for what he alleged was Fox's obsequience to U.S.
trade interests in his promotion of the newly stalled FTAA.
Additionally, on the November 13, 2005 episode of his weekly talk show Aló Presidente
, Chávez stated that the Mexican president was "bleeding from his wounds" and warned Fox to not "mess" with him, lest Fox "get stung". Fox, upon hearing of the remarks, expressed his outrage and threatened to recall Mexico's ambassador
to Venezuela if the Venezuelan government did not promptly issue an apology. However, rather than apologizing, Chávez simply recalled Venezuela's own ambassador to Mexico City
, Vladimir Villegas. The Mexican ambassador to Caracas was recalled the following day. Fox pulled the credentials of the Venezuelan ambassador to make it clear that Villegas was kicked out, not recalled as Venezuela claimed.
Although ties between the two countries have been strained, neither country will say that diplomatic ties have been indefinitely severed. Several groups both in Mexico and Venezuela are working to restore the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. In August 2007 normal relations were re-established with the appointment of former foreign minister Roy Chaderton
as Venezuela's envoy in Mexico City and the transfer of Jesús Mario Chacón Carrillo, formerly Mexican ambassador to Colombia, to Caracas.
Mar del Plata Summit of the Americas
The 4th Summit of the Americas was held at Mar del Plata, about southeast of Buenos Aires in Argentina, on November 4-5, 2005.This summit gathered together the leaders of all the countries of the American continent, except Cuba. Major security arrangements and massive popular protests against the...
where Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
made veiled criticisms of anti-FTAA leaders.
Following Fox's declarations, on November 10, 2005, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
stated in a speech to supporters in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
that he was saddened that "the president of a people like the Mexicans lets himself become the puppy of the empire" for what he alleged was Fox's obsequience to U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trade interests in his promotion of the newly stalled FTAA.
Additionally, on the November 13, 2005 episode of his weekly talk show Aló Presidente
Aló Presidente
Aló Presidente is a largely unscripted talk show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez which is broadcast on Venezuelan state television and radio stations every Sunday at 11:00 AM...
, Chávez stated that the Mexican president was "bleeding from his wounds" and warned Fox to not "mess" with him, lest Fox "get stung". Fox, upon hearing of the remarks, expressed his outrage and threatened to recall Mexico's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Venezuela if the Venezuelan government did not promptly issue an apology. However, rather than apologizing, Chávez simply recalled Venezuela's own ambassador to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Vladimir Villegas. The Mexican ambassador to Caracas was recalled the following day. Fox pulled the credentials of the Venezuelan ambassador to make it clear that Villegas was kicked out, not recalled as Venezuela claimed.
Although ties between the two countries have been strained, neither country will say that diplomatic ties have been indefinitely severed. Several groups both in Mexico and Venezuela are working to restore the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. In August 2007 normal relations were re-established with the appointment of former foreign minister Roy Chaderton
Roy Chaderton
Roy Chaderton Matos is a Venezuelan politician, lawyer, and diplomat. A graduate of the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Chaderton is one of the most experienced members of the Venezuelan diplomatic corps. He was foreign minister from May 2002 to February 2004 in the government of Hugo Chávez...
as Venezuela's envoy in Mexico City and the transfer of Jesús Mario Chacón Carrillo, formerly Mexican ambassador to Colombia, to Caracas.