Chávez Bides His Time: Why the March 2008 Threat of War in Latin America Quickly Subsided


 

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace

Author(s): William Ratliff

Research Area: Government

Keywords: Latin America; Hugo Chávez; Venezuela

Type: Report

Coverage: Colombia Venezuela Ecuador

Abstract:

In March 2008, the threat of war flared up between Uribe's Colombia on one side and Correa's Ecuador and Chávez's Venezuela on the other. After a week of saber rattling and dire threats, the three presidents suddenly declared a truce March 7, and the Organization of American States (OAS) sent a commission to investigate the near clash. This is the story of what happened, what Venezuela was up to, and why the U.S. should care.