Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday poked fun at Colombia’s expulsion of a Venezuelan soldier accused of carrying out an operation in Colombian territory, saying “only people like Rambo or the Terminator undertake solo missions.”
Sergeant Juan Gomez of the Venezuelan National Guard was expelled from Colombia for “reasons of national security” last Wednesday, the same day that a Venezuelan helicopter violated Colombian airspace.
According to Chavez, the soldier accidentally climbed on board a boat that turned out to be owned by petroleum smugglers, who hit the motor and sped off into Colombian territory, El Espectador reported Sunday.
“The sergeant reacted well because he didn’t go crazy but was armed and shot out the motor,” Chavez said, adding that Gomez was then detained by Colombian soldiers when he reached the river bank.
Colombian security agency DAS maintains that Gomez entered with an AK-103 rifle, which they think was to be used in a military operation.
This latest spat comes amid ongoing tensions between Colombia and Venezuela over a U.S.-Colombia pact that allows the U.S. military to use Colombian military bases and airports, and long-time accusations that the leftist government in Caracas is supporting guerrillas in Colombia.
