“Colombia’s most wanted FARC dissident killed in Venezuela”
Colombia’s election campaigns come to an end amid...
Francia Marquez
Colombia investigating attacks against media and journalists
Why State mafia allies threaten Colombia’s democracy
Colombia’s establishment candidate disappoints in election polls
Colombia’s far-right trying to postpone presidential elections
Colombia’s opposition embarks on anti-election fraud offensive
Establishment candidate in Colombia’s elections linked to mafia
Far-right group goes from opposing communism to opposing...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
News

Venezuela blasts Colombia as region talks defense

by Adriaan Alsema November 28, 2009

Colombia news - Maduro Unasur

Venezuela’s government on Friday blasted Colombia’s defense minister as a “crazy sniper” at a summit in Quito, where South American ministers agreed to sign a partial accord over security in the region.

The remarks came at a time of heightened tensions between Colombia and Venezuela, two Andean neighbors caught up in a simmering diplomatic dispute that is raising the risk of border violence and damaging bilateral trade ties.

Colombia had refused to send senior cabinet ministers to the UNASUR meeting of South American countries in Ecuador’s capital, citing “offenses” the country has suffered during its feud with Venezuela.

“Colombia’s defense minister stayed in Bogota and started to say things, like some crazy sniper, irresponsible, warmongering, firing shots at Venezuela,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told reporters. “Why didn’t he come here to say face to face what he said today.”

Maduro’s comments came just hours after Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva reiterated charges Colombian FARC commander Ivan Marquez and several commanders from the smaller ELN rebel group were taking shelter in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez, a fierce U.S. adversary, says a military pact signed in October between Colombia and the United States could set the stage for a U.S. invasion of his OPEC country. He calls President Alvaro Uribe a traitor to the region for signing the deal.

Washington and Bogota say the base plan will be used only for their long cooperation on anti-drug and counter-insurgency operations against rebels and drug gangs.

Venezuela and Colombia have often sparred about spillover from Colombia’s long guerrilla war and over accusations Chavez has backed FARC rebels. Both governments may be seeking to gain domestic leverage over the crisis, but Chavez has ratcheted up tensions by ordering his army commanders to prepare for war.

South American leftist leaders have said they are worried over the reach of the U.S.-Colombia base plan. But in Quito, regional foreign and defense ministers reached a partial agreement on more guarantees over the use of security deals.

“There were some advances on the question that has worried us a lot, that is the one about formal guarantees,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorin told reporters in Quito.

But Venezuela was joined by fellow leftist governments, Ecuador and Bolivia, who said the plan to allow the U.S. military more access to Colombian bases remained a problem and a possible threat to regional security.

border issuesELNFARCUNASURVenezuela

Trending

  • Colombia’s far-right trying to postpone presidential elections

  • Establishment candidate in Colombia’s elections linked to mafia

  • Colombia’s establishment candidate disappoints in election polls

Related articles

  • “Colombia’s most wanted FARC dissident killed in Venezuela”

  • How Duque condemned Colombia to a new cycle of violence

  • Ukraine war dominates top level US-Colombia meeting

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top