Foreign Policy's Venezuela “Global Scorecard” map wrongly lumps Caribbean nations with Russia and China

Foreign Policy has published an infographic that purports to depict global allegiances in the Venezuela crisis. The infographic, curiously, singles out three CARICOM nations—St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Suriname— and mentions them in a table in the accompanying story, placing them in the “Backs Nicolás Maduro” camp alongside powers such as Russia, China, Iran and Turkey.

Here's how the world is split on Maduro vs. Guaido, in Venezuela's political crisis: https://t.co/hm1N7Gx6fH pic.twitter.com/mdkx7l2FbZ

— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) February 6, 2019

This might be flattering geopolitically, but it doesn't reflect the reality. Twelve out of the 15 CARICOM states have jointly expressed their position on Venezuela, so Foreign Policy's list is missing nine CARICOM nations, plus the two others—Haiti and the Bahamas—who have voiced support of Guaidó.

CARICOM's position is also one of non-intervention and non-interference. This may amount, as some have pointed out, to tacit support for Maduro, but the spirit of the CARICOM statement is essentially the same as Mexico's and Uruguay's, both of whom Foreign Policy have placed in the “On the fence” or “taking neutral position, offered to mediate” camp.

CARICOM did also offer to mediate, and is in fact meeting today (February 7) with Uruguay, Mexico and other “neutral” states in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Originally published in Global Voices.