“There’s an enormous interest here in Russia in Latin America”, observed the President of Guatemala during a three-day visit to Moscow and St Petersburg this week which saw the strengthening of ties between the Russian and Guatemalan governments – and was a further illustration of the Kremlin’s determination to return to Latin America.
During his trip to Russia, the first by a Guatemalan leader, President Alvaro Colom praised Russian involvement in the political and economic affairs of Latin America. The leftist leader said: “Development of relations with Russia is entering a new stage now, and this applies not only to Guatemala but to all of Central America. We support [Moscow’s] stronger ties with Latin America and I am wholeheartedly in favour of this kind of intensification.”
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and President Colom issued a joint declaration in which they pledged to boost economic and trade ties between their two respective countries which, according to the former, “have been growing over these last years, but still fall far short of their real potential”. The two leaders also vowed that their governments would co-operate on oil refining and mining, as well as in telecommunications and transport.
Expanding military contacts was also discussed between the two sides. It is believed that on the table was the option of Russia modernising Guatemala’s antiquated armed forces by supplying armoured personnel carriers and aircraft. The Guatemalan government would pay for this equipment with sugar and coffee.
Prior to President Colom’s visit, the Guatemalan foreign ministry stressed the importance of reinforcing ties between Moscow and Guatemala. It said: “We regard the visit of Alvaro Colom to Russia as an historic event and we are certain that it will give a new boost to our bilateral relations. Russia could benefit from the opportunity to use our country as a foothold to promote its goods in the region.”
Guatemala is one of a number of Latin American countries which have in recent years orientated themselves toward Russia as a result of the coming to power of left-wing governments there.
In language reminiscent of how Latin American leaders who maintained close relations with the Kremlin during the Cold War used to speak, President Colom had this to say: “I imagined Russia to myself, thought about it a lot, but what I have seen has surpassed all my expectations. I am filled with emotion at being in this wonderful country.”
