terms of impact, direct impact." Haiti became a "permanent observer" of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) in February 2012, the regional group launched and led by Venezuela. At the February 2012 ALBA summit, "President Hugo Chávez and Haitian President Michel Martelly signed a framework agreement that aims to boost Venezuela’s role in Haitian agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, among other sectors." As the crisis in Venezuela intensified under Chávez's successor Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela began to stop shipping petroleum products to Haiti. This resulted with energy shortages and economic difficulties in Haiti after the nation's government ran out of funds for oil purchases after turning to international oil sales set at market rate prices. By 2018, inflation began to increase while economic growth decreased in Haiti as a result of losing Venezuelan aid. Into 2019, the government of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse recognized leader of the Venezuelan National Assembly Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela, turning away from Maduro, a traditional ally. As unrest in Venezuela continued, the Moïse government, beside ten other nations, approved of Guaidó's potential induction into the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance and using the treaty to manage the crisis in Venezuela. See also Foreign relations of Haiti Foreign relations of Venezuela References Venezuela Bilateral relations of Venezuela