Paraguay Out, Venezuela In: What Do Mercosur’s Changes Mean for Brazil?

source americasquarterly.org

Venezuela sees Mercosur

as defense pact

Venezuela says it sees the Mercosur trade bloc as an emergent military power in Latin America and will pursue plans for integrating its defense manufacturing capacity with Argentina's military industries as a first step in that direction..

Falkland islands - islas maledivas conflict

Falklands/Malvinas question

gets hot for the Brits

Chavez said Venezuela's defense accords with Argentina

would be a step toward "the necessary strategic integration of the armed forces in the framework of Mercosur and turning the bloc into a military power."

Chavez said such integration was needed "to help defend our resources, combat colonialism."

Mercosur suspended Paraguay

after the Paraguayan Congress voted to impeach Fernando Lugo and remove him from presidency, replacing him with Federico Franco as president. Mercosur called the impeachment and Lugo's ouster a coup, a stance that was supported by the Union of South American States.

Bush family

owns 300 Hectares of land next to Moon sect at Paraguay.

Bush negoiated a deal of not being pursued for war crimes at Paraguay.

source: upi.com