Petro condemns Venezuela attack and accuses America of aggression
Colombian President Gustavo Petro strongly condemned what he called a "missile" attack targeting the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, following reports of loud explosions that shook the city. This comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro quickly pointing the finger at the United States, describing the attack as a direct military aggression aimed at destabilizing his country.
In a swift response on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Colombian president, known for his close ties to his Venezuelan counterpart, wrote: "They attacked Venezuela." Petro did not stop at verbal condemnation; he demanded immediate diplomatic action at the highest levels, calling for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations. Petro stressed the need to examine the "legitimacy" of this aggression and discuss its serious repercussions for peace and security in Latin America.
Context of Colombian-Venezuelan relations
President Gustavo Petro's statements take on particular significance given the radical shift in relations between Bogotá and Caracas since he took office. After years of diplomatic estrangement and border tensions during the presidency of Iván Duque, Petro—Colombia's first leftist president—has worked to normalize relations with Venezuela, reopen the border, and strengthen economic and security cooperation between the two neighbors. This current political support is an extension of Colombia's policy of rapprochement aimed at ensuring the stability of its eastern border.
Ongoing US-Venezuelan tensions
This event cannot be separated from the long historical context of the conflict between Venezuela and the United States. For years, Washington has imposed harsh economic sanctions on Caracas, and the Maduro government has been deemed illegitimate by successive US administrations. In turn, the Venezuelan government has consistently accused the United States of attempting to orchestrate military coups and funding opposition groups to overthrow the regime, making Maduro's accusation against Washington in this attack part of an ongoing political narrative between the two countries.
Potential regional and international repercussions
This escalation raises widespread concerns about regional stability in South America. The Colombian president's call for intervention from international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States indicates a deep anxiety about the potential for the conflict to widen or descend into military confrontations that could affect neighboring countries. Furthermore, any military tension in Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest oil reserves, could have repercussions for global energy markets, giving the event dimensions that extend far beyond the geographical boundaries of Latin America.
