FARC operates across the Colombian border in both Venezuela and Ecuador—and Colombia is none too happy about that—yet somehow, both Chavez and Correa have managed to avoid any sanctions or legal actions.
When documents implicating the Venezuelan government in providing support to the FARC were found in a 2008 raid in Ecuador, Chavez laid low, despite some calls within the US government to place Venezuela on the state sponsor of terrorism list. It’s possible those calls may be renewed for Ecuador instead. However, there are a few obstacles to that. The U.S. imports a decent amount of oil from both countries; approximately 15 percent between the two of them. The U.S. also maintains a military base in Manta, Ecuador, although that base has to be relocated by November, when the lease ends.
Regardless, both Correa and Chavez know these findings will not play well on the international stage. Correa will likely follow Chavez’s example from last year and stay out of the spotlight—at least for now.
