Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Monday attacked Colombia’s government, dismissing a suggestion by his Colombian counterpart that a dispute between the neighboring countries was the result of a “misunderstanding.”
Colombian media reports that Maduro is standing by his claim that Colombia is home to a plan to destabilize Venezuela as he rejected Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ suggestion that “there must be misunderstandings.”
“Converting Bogota into a conspiracy center to plan the assassination of [speaker of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello,] my poisoning and the death of our soldiers was not a misunderstanding,” said Maduro.
MORE: Claims Colombia wants to destabilize Venezuela ‘ridiculous’: Santos
Venezuela’s president added that he is interested in having a good relationship with Colombia, but only if it is transparent and without deception.
“The Colombian government is an oligarchy which has dominated the country for over 180 years. Are we interested in good relations with them?, Yes, but based on clear rules, which do not trip us up,” confirmed the Venezuelan.
Maduro on Sunday criticized Colombia’s application to join NATO, which was rejected on Monday, and said that the possibility of Colombia united with the international organization was part of an “attack against the Bolivarian revolution.”
The latest attack on Colombia by president Maduro stems from rising tensions between the two nations after a Venezuelan opposition member visited Colombia and was permitted to address congress.
MORE: Venezuela threatens to withdraw support for Colombia peace talks