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The renowned Uruguayan ambassador who confronted the U.S. at the UN and had his own foreign minister as his main opponen
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Elections & Politics

The renowned Uruguayan ambassador who confronted the U.S. at the UN and had his own foreign minister as his main opponent

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Uruguayan Ambassador Carlos María Velázquez confronted the United States at the UN in 1965 over its intervention in the Dominican Republic.
  • His stance was seen as a significant act of dignity for a Latin American nation, earning praise from American humorist Art Buchwald.
  • Velázquez's actions were reportedly met with opposition from his own government, with attempts made to prevent him from speaking.

In April 1965, as U.S. troops landed in the Dominican Republic, Uruguayan Ambassador Carlos María Velázquez stood as a lone Latin American voice against the intervention at the United Nations. His courageous stance, challenging the powerful United States, was later lauded by American political satirist Art Buchwald.

Buchwald called Velázquez, calling him a "Latin American David" confronting the "American Goliath." He expressed admiration for what he considered "the greatest declaration of dignity of a Latin American country," despite knowing little about the ambassador or Uruguay. Buchwald's column, which was set to be published the following day, satirized President Lyndon B. Johnson's justification for the intervention – protecting Americans – by humorously recounting the story of the last American tourist stranded in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Buchwald, how can I help you?

— Carlos María VelázquezResponding to a call from the American humorist Art Buchwald.

Velázquez's defiance was not without internal challenges. According to Vanna García, Velázquez's sister-in-law who was present in New York at the time, the ambassador was difficult to locate on the day of his speech. Calls from Uruguay's Foreign Minister, Luis Vidal Zaglio, were reportedly intercepted by his secretary, Mateo Marques Seré, under orders from Velázquez himself to remain unreachable.

Despite these efforts to perhaps control or silence him, Velázquez appeared precisely at 3:30 PM in the UN Security Council Chamber. He took his seat and prepared his microphone just as the Soviet ambassador introduced a resolution condemning the U.S. invasion and demanding an immediate troop withdrawal. Velázquez's intervention marked a pivotal moment, showcasing a small nation's resolve against a superpower on the international stage.

This is the first time a Latin American David has confronted the government of the United States. I don't know much about you or Uruguay, but this has been the greatest declaration of dignity of a Latin American country.

— Art BuchwaldCongratulating Ambassador Velázquez on his stance against the U.S. intervention.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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