Colombian President Gustavo Petro (left) being welcomed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during the former's official visit to Venezuela in April 2024. File photo.
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated that he is in constant communication with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on combating armed groups operating in the border region of the two countries.
In public statements on Thursday, January 23, Petro confirmed that joint actions are being implemented to mitigate cross-border violence and crime.
From Haiti, where the Colombian President is currently on an official visit, he said that he is maintaining contact with the Venezuelan government to design a joint plan to eradicate armed gangs. The strategy focuses especially on the Catatumbo region, a historically complex, conflictive zone.
Venezuela Welcomes Displaced Colombians & Ensures Their Safety
President Petro instructed his minister of Defense to establish direct contact with his Venezuelan counterpart, Vladimir Padrino López, with the aim of developing a protocol for coordinated action.
Nadie se desconecta en esta época.
Informo que he estado conectado con el actual gobierno venezolano desde Haití y he delegado a mi ministro de defensa para hablar con su par y establecer un plan conjunto de erradicación de bandas armadas en la frontera.
Verdaderos… https://t.co/GQwFfVvHWd
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 23, 2025
“I have spoken with the president of Venezuela in order to close illegal crossings, especially in the Catatumbo River, and to coordinate aerial surveillance actions on both sides of the border,” Petro explained.
The initiative aims at securing strategic regions utilized by drug-trafficking and armed gangs.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/DZ
