Chavez's World Tour and a Cautious Russia and China

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez began a 10-day foreign tour to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Syria, Portugal, Iran, Algeria and Libya on Oct. 14. The trip comes as the Venezuelan president feels increasingly vulnerable at home. Though Chavez's hosts in the former Soviet Union will grant him the attention he desires, Moscow does not yet appear willing to provoke the United States too much via its ties to Venezuela, especially given that Chavez's domestic insecurity is growing. China, conspicuously removed from the president's itinerary in early October, also appears to be exercising caution with its Venezuelan relations.