
Colombian Defense Minister IvĂĄn VelĂĄsquez (left) and Venezuelan Defense Minister VladĂmir Padrino meeting in Caracas, with a SimĂłn BolĂvar "Liberator" painting in the background, May 11, 2023. Photo: Twitter/@BluRadioCo.
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Colombian Defense Minister IvĂĄn VelĂĄsquez (left) and Venezuelan Defense Minister VladĂmir Padrino meeting in Caracas, with a SimĂłn BolĂvar "Liberator" painting in the background, May 11, 2023. Photo: Twitter/@BluRadioCo.
The Colombian minister for national defense, IvĂĄn VelĂĄsquez, met with his Venezuelan counterpart, VladĂmir Padrino, in Caracas this Thursday, May 11. Both agreed on several issues, among which the increase in the military presence at illegal border crossings stands out, as covered by the joint statement made public after the meeting.
The meeting held between the national defense ministers is the third in less than a year, after President Gustavo Petro took office and resumed diplomatic ties with Venezuela after ties had been left almost paralyzed by former president IvĂĄn Duque in an attempt to oust Venezuelan President NicolĂĄs Maduro through blindly following a failed US “regime change” operation.
Among other aspects, the joint statement mentions the need to increase military presence at illegal border crossings, “in defense of the common border.” In addition, the initiative seeks to stop smuggling in that area.
Se estrechan relaciones entre Colombia đ¨đ´ y Venezuela đťđŞ.
âCon las operaciones fronterizas vamos a liberar de terroristas, de grupos armados, en todo el territorio nacional, sean de donde sean. NingĂşn grupo tiene la moral, ni la autorizaciĂłn para permanecer en espacio soberano⌠pic.twitter.com/agNDeLYLgD
— Mindefensa (@mindefensa) May 11, 2023
Joint statement
Below, you can read the five agreements covered in the joint statement:
Venezuela Reacts to Petro’s International Conference on Venezuela (+Alex Saab)
Deepening of relationship
The defense ministers of both countries held a press conference after the meeting. The two highlighted the process of normalization of relations between Venezuela and Colombia. “We are amazed at the speed of the diplomatic, commercial, and integrative developments,” the ministers stated. “We are amazed at how we have healed wounds.”
Colombian Minister VelĂĄsquez stated that Venezuela is committed to his country in supporting the “total peace” initiative undertaken by President Gustavo Petro. He reported that an important goal is the endeavor for joint security operations to strengthen the fight against crime on the border.
#EnVivo đš | Presidente @NicolasMaduro sostiene reuniĂłn con el ministro de Defensa de la RepĂşblica de Colombia, IvĂĄn VelĂĄsquez.https://t.co/iyS2e9yi5y
— Prensa Presidencial (@PresidencialVen) May 11, 2023
After the meeting, the Colombian defense minister met with President NicolĂĄs Maduro at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas. The meeting was private, with no statements published; however, it transpired that the meeting was also aimed at strengthening binational alliances in security and defense issues between the sister nations.
(RedRadioVE) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/AU
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