The new disagreement between Russia and Colombia over Venezuela worsens

The relationship with Venezuela caused a new disagreement between Russia and Colombia. The governments of both countries have had in the last two days a crossing of accusations after Colombia warned that Russia would be participating in a “foreign interference on the edge of the border” with Venezuelawithout showing evidence.

These types of disagreements are not new. The most recent occurred in April 2019 when Colombia indicated that any military incursion in favor of the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro would represent a threat to stability in the region after Russia sent two planes and almost a hundred soldiers to Venezuela.

“So far there has been no diplomatic conflict, there are some differences due to the statements given,” said Carlos Alberto Patiño, an expert in international relations and a professor at the National University of Colombia.

Russia has been a strong political, economic and military ally of the Chavista regime since Hugo Chávez came to power, while its neighbor Colombia does not recognize the Maduro government and therefore does not have diplomatic relations. Instead, he endorses opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president.

“Evidently there has been a prevention for a long time for the Russian weapons that are said to exist in Venezuela, because it exists. Colombia does not have a Russian but it has an American, all countries buy from somewhere,” said Julio Londoño, former Colombian ambassador to Cuba.

Colombian President Iván Duque advocated this Friday for maintaining diplomatic channels with Russia while announcing that he will speak with the diplomatic representation of that country to “understand a little about the military assistance that is being provided in Venezuela, why the presence of some equipment in that country”, he explained.

The AP asked the Colombian Presidency for more information on the equipment and military assistance mentioned by Duque, without receiving an immediate response.

The day before, the Russian Embassy in Colombia drew attention in a statement to the “unfounded” and “inappropriate” accusations by the Colombian Defense Minister, Diego Molano, who said that “some men have been mobilized towards the border with Colombia. and units of the Bolivarian Military Force with the support and technical assistance of Russia and with the support and technical assistance of Iran.”

Colombia and Venezuela maintain military troops in their border departments of Arauca and Apure, respectively, as a result of a confrontation between groups outside the law, the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissidents of the Armed Forces. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which have left more than 20 people dead and 2,000 displaced on the Colombian side. Colombia also points out to Venezuela that it give protection to these groups, while the Chavista regime categorically denies it.

In addition, the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached Latin America due to the fact that several high-ranking Russian officials have warned that they could deploy troops to Cuba and Venezuela.

In the midst of these warnings, Maduro and Russian President Vladimir Putin made public a telephone call in which they discussed cooperation between the two countries.

“I see it as part of greater geopolitical tensions, because there is an interest on the part of Chavismo in Venezuela to maintain a very close relationship from the military and arms point of view with Russia, to respond precisely to the relationship that Colombia has been strengthening with the United States. United”, explained Víctor Mijares, professor of Political Science at the Universidad de Los Andes.