World Allies at the Present Moment

Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and now perhaps more of Latin America.

Perhaps this alliance has already been confirmed, but this week's news from the World Bank seemed to confirm it even more. Chavez has been calling on other countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua--all allies with the aforementioned--to join him in rejecting the World Bank and the IMF and starting a new bank called "Bank of the South". (Why did the administration give Mr. Wolfowitz the position at the World Bank in the first place.) This might sound an empty threat from Chavez; but in many parts of the developing world there is resentment against “the Washington consensus”. African countries leap at Chinese aid because it ostensibly comes with fewer strings attached than the World Bank's money. The rigged rules of the IMF and World Bank are known by many. But Chavez's new idea is also threatening.