The Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Carlos Farías, and his counterpart recently appointed by the new Colombian government, Álvaro Leyva, announced this Thursday that after a meeting in the Venezuelan border state of Táchira they hope to work for the “gradual normalization” in diplomatic relations of both nations after three years of freezing.
In a statement broadcast by the Venezuelan state channel, Leyva indicated when reading the statement from both parties that during the meeting they expressed their willingness to advance a work agenda starting next August 7, when Gustavo Petro —the first elected leftist in the history of the Andean country—assume power.
He added that they “ratified their willingness to consolidate the ties of friendship and cooperation with the review of all issues of binational interest for the benefit of the happiness of our peoples,” and that they reaffirmed “their willingness to make joint efforts to guarantee security and peace on the border of our two countries”.
The nations share a 2,200-kilometer border, with several clandestine and remote crossings – known as “trochas” – that are used by paramilitary groups, drug traffickers and guerrillas to operate and maintain control in the areas, which causes constant violent clashes between the groups.
At the meeting of the parties, which would be the first between ministers of both countries after three years, the official governor of the border state of Táchira, Freddy Bernal, and the Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Verification Mission were also present. in Colombia, Raúl Rosende, according to Leyva’s declarations.
Farías, the Venezuelan foreign minister, declared that it is also expected to reestablish ambassadors in both countries and a gradual opening of the border.
Hours after the meeting between the foreign ministers, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro greeted the meeting between the officials, who discussed 14 topics of economic interest, security, cooperation, among others. “It was a meeting that tells us that the future is going to be better, and Colombia and Venezuela meet again in peace, in love, in freedom,” the president declared during an event broadcast on state television from the Venezuelan capital.
The common passage between the nations was closed in 2019 by Maduro’s mandate, when he also broke diplomatic relations with Colombia arguing that his counterpart at the time, Iván Duque, promoted plans to force his overthrow.
For its part, its neighboring country, with Duque in power, was one of the territories that recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela, after he proclaimed himself as such in 2019, arguing that Maduro was re-elected in a few fraudulent elections held in 2018.
After Petro was elected in the second round, Maduro and he had a conversation about the willingness to restore normalcy at the borders.
In a recent interview with AP, José Antonio Ocampo, finance minister appointed by Petro, was optimistic about a possible reopening of the border and stressed that it is in the interest of merchants from both countries for economic reactivation. “You have to remember that Venezuela was our second trading partner. It is a huge opportunity if it is achieved. Obviously it depends on the Venezuelan economy having a firm recovery, but this is already the first year in which there is an expectation of growth in the Venezuelan economy”, he indicated.
Since June 2021, Colombia has opened all border crossings with Venezuela. However, in practice it is only possible to cross the border on foot. The expectation continues for the next opening of the land crossings that allow the transport of cargo.
Despite the border closure, the lack of direct flights between the two nations and the tense relations that have been maintained in recent years, Colombia has received almost two million Venezuelan migrants of the more than five million who have left due to the economic, political and that has afflicted Venezuela.