Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting national sovereignty against narcotrafficking threats, particularly along the Colombia-Venezuela border, highlighting ongoing bilateral security challenges in the region.

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President Maduro Announces Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Colombian Drug Trafficking in Venezuela

In a decisive statement issued Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared his administration’s unwavering commitment to defending Venezuelan territory from drug trafficking and violence, with special emphasis on securing the extensive border with Colombia. This announcement comes amid escalating concerns about cross-border criminal activities and follows recent collaborative efforts between the two nations to address security issues.

“We will defend Venezuelan territory; a territory free of violence and drug trafficking, including the border with Colombia,” Maduro stated during his address, praising Venezuelan intelligence and counterintelligence operations for their effectiveness in dismantling drug trafficking networks. The president specifically highlighted recent successes against criminal organizations operating in the strategic border regions of Zulia and Catatumbo.

Maduro’s focus on the Catatumbo River area is particularly significant as this region has become a focal point for joint security operations. Earlier this year, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Maduro discussed implementing a cooperative approach to tackle drug trafficking along this border region, where a joint action plan has been under development to address the security challenges at hand.

Challenges in Bilateral Cooperation

Despite these diplomatic overtures, Maduro expressed frustration with the apparent lack of responsiveness from Colombian authorities when Venezuelan officials attempt to coordinate security efforts. “No one on the Colombian border answers the phone,” he claimed, adding that “they call the police and the army, and no one responds” from the Colombian side, suggesting ongoing challenges in operational coordination between the neighboring countries.

Beyond border security, Maduro emphasized his administration’s broader commitment to combating internal corruption linked to drug trafficking. Without providing specific details, he alluded to two mayors allegedly involved in illicit activities, asserting that “We are fighting corruption, crime, and drug trafficking” as interconnected threats to national security and governance.

This anti-corruption stance aligns with Venezuela’s recent efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity to confront organized crime. The January meeting between the defense ministers of both countries (Colombia’s Iván Velásquez and Venezuela’s Vladimir Padrino López) represented a significant step toward coordinating cross-border security efforts following Maduro’s inauguration for his third term on January 10, 2025.

The president’s statements reflect the complex security dynamics in Latin America, where leftist governments have adopted varying approaches to addressing narcotrafficking and organized crime. Venezuela’s current security policies must be understood within the broader context of regional leftist governance models that have emerged in recent decades, which have often sought to balance sovereignty concerns with the need for international cooperation on transnational threats.

As Venezuela continues to assert its sovereignty in addressing security challenges, the effectiveness of its approach will likely depend on its ability to strengthen genuine cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly Colombia. The recent dialogue between Maduro and Petro suggests potential for improved bilateral relations, though significant challenges remain in translating diplomatic engagement into effective operational coordination.

The commitment to defending Venezuelan territory against drug trafficking represents a critical policy priority for Maduro’s administration as it navigates complex regional dynamics and seeks to address the multifaceted security challenges facing the nation in 2025 and beyond.

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