Venezuela’s performing president, Delcy Rodríguez, has welcomed Colombian President Gustavo Petro on the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s performing president, Delcy Rodríguez, on Friday welcomed Colombian President Gustavo Petro on the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, their first assembly because the U.S. army seized former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse from their dwelling in January.
The leaders had been anticipated to debate an intensive bilateral agenda, together with migration, protection, border safety, industrial cooperation and commerce.
Petro and Rodríguez had been anticipated to fulfill final month at their shared border, however their respective governments abruptly canceled the assembly citing “power majeure,” which they didn’t clarify, and easily stated it might happen at a later time.
Forward of Friday’s assembly, Petro introduced that his delegation, which incorporates prime army and police officers, will deal with border safety with Rodríguez.
The main target stays on the Catatumbo area, the place rival armed teams combat for territorial management and Petro pressured the need of “shut collaboration on intelligence,” warning that with out it, “bombs land within the fallacious locations … and find yourself killing civilians.”
Colombia-Venezuela ties have lengthy been on the rocks. Petro didn’t acknowledge Maduro as Venezuela’s official president within the wake of the contested July 2024 elections that triggered protests, which sparked widespread repression. Nonetheless, he maintained diplomatic ties with Caracas.
Colombia’s authorities has stated that the Petro-Rodríguez assembly on Friday goals to “contribute to a decision of Venezuela’s political disaster.”
Nonetheless, it’s unclear how this may be achieved.
Ronal Rodríguez Durán, a researcher on the Venezuela Observatory on the Universidad del Rosario, stated Petro’s leverage is proscribed concerning any potential mediation, provided that his time period ends in August. Future ties with Venezuela will possible even be influenced by who takes energy subsequent in Colombia.
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