EVO MORALES VISITS VENEZUELA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000016

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2026
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: EVO MORALES VISITS VENEZUELA

REF: LA PAZ 0006

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert R. Downes for Reason 1.4(d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales arrived in
Caracas January 3 for a brief visit that included paying
homage to Simon Bolivar at the National Monument, a two-hour
bilateral meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and
a lengthy joint press conference in "Cadena Nacional." In
addition to offering his advice, Chavez pledged USD 30
million to assist the Bolivian government in creating and
executing social programs and agreed to exchange 150 thousand
barrels of diesel monthly in return for Bolivian agricultural
products. Morales said his recent electoral victory signaled
the second liberation of Latin America and demonstrated the
socialist movement's success. Venezuela was Morales' second
stop on a post-election travel itinerary that includes Cuba,
Spain, France, Belgium, South Africa, China and Brazil.
Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala also showed up
for the visit; Chavez called his presence a coincidence.
Morales is tipping his hat to his regional patrons before
beginning a wider swing for international support. His
public statements, while at times critical of the United
States seemed moderate compared to those of his host. End
Summary



2. (U) Alex Contreras, Morales' spokesperson, explained that
a last minute schedule change facilitated travel to Caracas.
Contreras asserted that the President-elect traveled to
Venezuela via commercial airliner and would continue his trip
utilizing the same mode of transportation. However, local
media sources and embassy contacts established that Morales
arrived on a Cuban airliner but departed Venezuela in an
private jet, apparently a Falcon jet owned by state-run oil
company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and often used by
President Chavez for his travels.

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CHAVEZ OFFERS ADVICE, MONEY AND SUBSIDIZED FUEL
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3. (U) After paying homage to Simon Bolivar at the National
Monument, Chavez and Morales reportedly spent two hours at
the Venezuelan presidential office at Miraflores in a
private, bilateral meeting during which Bolivia's
President-elect reportedly discussed plans to eradicate
"latifundos" or unproductive land and to nationalize basic
services (including the energy sector) in Bolivia. Chavez
told local media sources that he had agreed to share
"institutional knowledge" regarding hydrocarbons with Bolivia
and to subsidize 150 thousand barrels of diesel monthly to
the landlocked, Andean nation. As payment, Chavez continued,
Bolivia would provide approximately USD 150 million in
agricultural products to Venezuela annually. In addition to
an energy agreement, Chavez and Morales also signed bilateral
health and education cooperation agreements which, according
to Chavez, will take the form of Venezuelan "missions".
(Note: Venezuelan "missions" are broad-based social
programs). The GoV will reportedly donate USD 30 million to
assist Morales' government in creating and executing social
programs.


4. (U) During a joint press conference on January 3 at

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Miraflores, Chavez labeled the USG and its allies the "axis
of evil" and commented that he, Morales and Cuban President
Fidel Castro would create an "axis of good". He continued
that any government seeking to undercut Morales'
administration would fail and confirmed that he would support
the cultivation of coca in Bolivia. More controlled in his
anti-imperialist rhetoric than Chavez, Morales said his
electoral victory signaled the beginning of Latin America's
second liberation and demonstrated the success of the
socialist movement in the region. Peruvian Presidential
candidate Ollanta Humala reportedly attended the joint press
conference but made no comments. Chavez dismissed Humala's
presence in Caracas as a coincidence. Humala had been
invited to Caracas by ruling party Movimiento Quinta
Republica (MVR) and met with Chavez on the evening of January
3, according to local media sources.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Whether or not they subscribe to his anti-imperialist
rhetoric, generous aid debt purchases and favorable energy
agreements facilitated by the ocean of petroleum receipts
Venezuela now enjoys, Chavez has attracted the attention of a
number of regional leaders. Whatever Morales' views of "US
imperialism," ALBA, bolivarian socialism, or any of Chavez'
other pet rocks, the Bolivian President-elect is making a
smart financial move --at least in the short-term-- by paying
an early call on the self-important Hugo Chavez. Asked
directly if he was worried that association with Castro and
Chavez would irritate the United State, Morales said that he
would look for a way to work with us as long as Bolivia's
sovereignty was respected - also a smart play on his behalf.
WHITAKER