Venezuela - Colombia Border Crisis Escalates

Reuters: Venezuela extends Colombia border closure, sends 3,000 troops

Venezuela has extended a partial border shutdown with Colombia and sent another 3,000 troops to the area in a crime crackdown that has sent thousands of Colombians fleeing their adopted homeland and led to accusations of rights abuses.

The border dispute has also created a diplomatic blow-up between President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government and the conservative administration of Juan Manuel Santos in Colombia.

Critics say Maduro is creating a distraction and playing the nationalist card before a December parliamentary election in which polls show his ruling Socialist Party in trouble.

More News On The Venezuela - Colombia Border Crisis

Venezuela continues closing border crossings with Colombia -- AP
Venezuelan president closes more of border with Colombia -- AFP
Venezuela shuts down last major border crossing amid Colombian smuggling crackdown -- Miami herald Tribunue
Venezuela's Maduro closes further section of Colombia border -- Deutsche Welle
Mass Deportations Fuel Tension Along Venezuela-Colombia Border -- NPR
Attempts to resolve Colombia-Venezuela border spat continue -- Irish Times
Colombia Accepts Uruguay Offer to Mediate with Venezuela -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Venezuela’s economy is in tatters — and its border crisis could destabilize the region -- Christopher Woody, Business Insider

The Real Reason Why Venezuela's Chavez Decided To Betray FARC

WikiLeaks: Stratfor Emails Say Chavez Betrayed FARC To Appease Generals -- McClathcy News

MIAMI — The extradition to Venezuela of alleged drug trafficker Walid Makled occurred in the context of an intense diplomatic chess game where President Hugo Chávez sacrificed Colombian guerrillas to capture the dangerous pawn, who kept his government in check, according to emails from a private security firm obtained by WikiLeaks.

The reports, from the private intelligence firm Stratfor, highlight the pressure applied by National Armed Forces’ high-ranking officers to push Chávez into negotiations with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ government.

Makled, accused by the United States of being “a king among the drug lords,” was extradited to Caracas in May although the Venezuelan entrepreneur also faced an extradition request from Washington.

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My Comment: These emails from Stratfor are all speculation .... but we do know this .... (1) the drug trafficker in question was extradited to Venezuela against US objections. (2) FARC was booted out of Venezuela. (3) A rapprochement has developed between Colombia and Venezuela.

A Colombia - Venezuela Rapprochement?

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos

No Farc In Venezuela, Says Colombian President Santos -- BBC

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says Venezuela is no longer harbouring Colombian left-wing rebels.

Accusations by former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe that Venezuela was giving refuge to Farc guerrillas led to a break-down in relations between the two neighbours last year.

President Santos also praised Venezuela for handing over two alleged rebels from another left-wing group on Monday.

Mr Uribe said he doubted Venezuela was free of Farc rebel camps.

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More News On FARC And Venezuela

Colombia says rebel camps gone from Venezuela -- Reuters
There are no more FARC camps in Venezuela: Santos -- Colombia Reports
Briefs: Colombia Praises Venezuela's Efforts To Remove FARC -- Insight Crime
Colombia says Venezuela no longer hosting Colombian rebel camps, ties better with Chavez -- Canadian Press/AP
Colombia and Venezuela: friends again -- Financial Times
Colombia, Venezuela on track to restore bilateral ties -- Xinhuanet
Colombia-Venezuela Talks Successful, Strengthen Regional Cooperation -- Venezuelanalysis
Colombia govt spent $9B on military in 2010 -- Colombian Reports

Venezuela to send 2 suspected guerrillas to Colombia; Spain wants ETA suspect -- Washington Post

Colombia - Venezuela Restore Diplomatic Ties

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez talk in Santa Marta, Colombia, Friday at the start of their first bilateral encounter since Santos took office last Saturday. Jose Miguel Gomez/Reuters

Colombia, Venezuela Restore Diplomatic Ties -- Voice of America

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, have restored diplomatic relations that were severed last month by Caracas in a dispute over Venezuela's alleged support of leftist rebels in Colombia.

The two leaders made the announcement late Tuesday after talks. They met at a colonial-era estate in Santa Marta, a city on Colombia's Caribbean coast where 19th-century independence hero Simon Bolivar died.

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More News On The Restoration Of Diplomatic Ties Between Colombia And Venezuela

Colombia, Venezuela Restore Diplomatic Relations -- New York Times/AP
Venezuela, Colombia re-establish diplomatic ties -- Washington Times
Colombia, Venezuela Agree to Restore Diplomatic Relations After Dispute -- Bloomberg
Venezuela renews ties with Colombia -- Financial Times
Colombia's Santos, Venezuela's Chavez restore ties -- Reuters
Leaders Repair Colombia-Venezuela Ties -- New York Times
Speedy thaw in Colombia-Venezuela ties -- BBC
First move for Colombia's Santos: Reconcile with Venezuela's Chávez -- Christian Science Monitor
His own man: Colombia's New President -- The Economist

Venezuela Moves Troops To The Colombian Border

Chavez Says Venezuela Sending Troops To Colombian Border -- CNN

(CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has deployed troops to areas near the Colombian border and says he is reviewing plans for a potential war as tension between the two nations rises.

"Three nights ago I told the vice-president. It makes me sad, I confess, that I'm reviewing war plans," he said during a phone interview on the state-run VTV network.

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More News On Colombia - Venezuela Relations

Venezuela Sends Troops to Colombian Border -- Voice of America
Venezuela sends troops to Colombian border: Chavez -- AFP
Chavez: Venezuela Has Deployed Troops Amid Spat -- New York Times/AP
Chavez Deploys Military Units In Colombia Row -- New York Times/Reuters
Chavez sends troops to Colombian border -- The Age
Colombia-Venezuela dispute unresolved in meeting of South American leaders -- Washington Post
Neighbours fail to end Venezuela-Colombia rift -- Reuters
Conference Ends with No Progress on Colombia-Venezuela Dispute -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Regional push to solve Venezuela-Colombia dispute -- Al Jazeera

Venezuelan Embassy In Colombia Shuts Down Operations

Behind The Colombia-Venezuela Break: A Presidential Battle -- Time Magazine

It was hardly unexpected when left-wing Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez broke off diplomatic ties with neighboring Colombia on Thursday, July 22. The government of his archfoe, conservative Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, had just accused Venezuela before the Organization of American States (OAS) of harboring Colombia's Marxist guerrillas. Chávez, as he's done in the past when he's felt provoked by Uribe, sounded the political air-raid sirens and warned Venezuelans to brace for a military attack from beyond its western border. "We would go to war with Colombia weeping," he declared in Caracas — with, by coincidence, Argentine national soccer coach and fellow leftist Diego Maradona, who was visiting, standing by his side. "But we would have to go."

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More News On Colombian - Venezuelan Relations

Venezuela breaks ties with US-allied Colombia -- AP
Venezuela leader Hugo Chavez severs ties with Colombia -- BBC
Venezuela and Colombia face off (again)-- Financial Times
Venezuela breaks ties with US-allied Colombia -- Washington Post
Venezuela's Chavez Breaks Diplomatic Ties With Colombia -- Voice of America
Venezuelan Embassy in Colombia shuts down operations, FM says -- El Universal
Venezuela. Colombian diplomats given 72 hours to leave -- Ottawa Citizen
Venezuelan military warns Colombia against attack -- Reuters
Venezuelan Armed Forces support decision to cut ties with Colombia -- El Universal
Venezuela: Army battled Colombian rebels -- Colombia Reports
US sides with Colombia in escalating row with Venezuela -- AFP
UN calls for Venezuela-Colombia dialogue over FARC row -- Christian Science Monitor

Colombia: FARC Leaders And Their Bases Are In Venezuela

Photo from Colombia Reports

Colombia Says It Has Proof That FARC Leaders Are In Venezuela -- CNN

(CNN) -- Colombian authorities have proof that high-ranking leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, live in Venezuela, the Colombian government said Thursday.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe issued a statement listing their names.

Among them is one known only by the alias "Ivan Marquez;" other names include Rodrigo Granda, whose alias is "Ricardo;" Timoleon Jimenez, whose alias is "Timochenko;" German Briceno, whose alias is "Grannobles;" and Carlos Marin Guarin, whose alias is "Pablito." The president said there are other "integral members" of the group in Venezuela.

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More News On Colombia's War Against FARC

Venezuela 'harbours rebel groups' - Colombian minister -- BBC
Colombia: Leftist Rebels Hiding in Venezuela -- Voice of America
Venezuela 'hosting Farc rebels' -- Al Jazeera
Colombia says has proof rebels hiding in Venezuela -- Reuters
Rebel leaders hiding in Venezuela, says Colombia -- ABC News (Australia)
Colombia has proof of FARC leaders in Venezuela: Caracol -- Colombia Reports
Colombia says it has evidence of FARC's presence in Venezuela -- El Universal

Photo: Russian PM Putin and Venezuelan leader Chavez

Venezuela-Russia Deal Sparks Arms Race Concerns -- Financial Times

Venezuela’s $5bn arms deal with Russia has reignited concerns about a Latin American arms race, with Álvaro Uribe, Colombia’s president, warning that competitive spending on weapons was “enormously harmful”.

“Colombia is a country that has faced the challenge of internal violence, but which does not participate in the arms race. Just like we believe that countries have to fulfil their duties facing terrorism, we also feel that the arms race is enormously harmful,” he said at the opening of the World Economic Forum for Latin America.

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My Comment: Colombia's President has made it very clear .... they will not enter into an arms race. But when visiting Canadian Prime Minister Harper, Colombian President Uribe also voiced his concerns of an arms race with Venezuela.

Colombia - Venezuelan Relations Hit A New Low

Hugo Chavez (left) and Alvaro Uribe. (Photo from The Telegraph)

Chavez Of Venezuela, Uribe Of Colombia In Shouting Match -- CNN

Cancun, Mexico (CNN) -- A shouting match involving the presidents of Venezuela and Colombia is the latest rumble in months of tension between the two South American nations.

The presidential outbursts between Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe of Colombia happened Monday afternoon at a closed-door luncheon for heads of state attending the so-called "Unity Summit" being held near the Mexican beach resort of Cancun.

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More News On Colombia - Venezuelan Relations

Hugo Chavez called a 'coward' as insults fly at Latin American summit -- The Telegraph
Uribe and Chavez lock horns in Mexico -- Colombia Reports
Clash between Uribe and Chávez shows strong differences in the region -- El Universal
Chavez-Uribe spat NOT helpful to proposed OAS without USA and Canada -- VHeadline
Fight Disrupts Latin America ‘Unity Summit’ -- The American

My Comment: So much for Latin-American unity.

Tensions Continue Between Colombia And Venezuela

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe (L) and Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva.
Photo AFP

Tensions Escalate Between Colombia And Venezuela -- Reuters

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia said it is preparing to defend against a possible foreign military attack amid growing tensions with neighboring Venezuela, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday Colombia would regret any actions that hurt his country.

Without specifically accusing Venezuela, Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva was quoted as saying on Sunday that his country was preparing a strategy to ward off any attack.

Colombia, a close ally of the United States, and Venezuela, whose leader Chavez is one of the most strident critics of the United States in Latin America, are locked in a growing political and trade dispute. Chavez, an outspoken socialist, accuses the United States of planning to invade Venezuela with the help of Colombia, a charge the United States denies.

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More News On The Tensions Between Colombia And Venezuelan

Colombia beefs up forces on border with Venezuela -- BBC
Colombia to build new military base on Venezuelan border -- AFP
Colombia 'facing foreign threat' -- Al Jazeera
Colombia to build new military base on Venezuelan border -- Colombia Reports
Chavez: US spy plane violated Venezuela's airspace -- AP
Chavez: U.S. Spy Planes Entered Venezuela from Colombia -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Chavez Says U.S. Drone Planes Entered Venezuela -- Bloomberg
Venezuela, Colombia remain on offensive about military bases -- Buenos Aires Herald
Venezuela's Chavez launches new police force -- AP

Is The FARC Leadership Hiding In Venezuela?

Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva

If Venezuela Fears Colombian Attack It Admits FARC Presence, Bogota Says -- Latin American Herald Tribune

BOGOTA – Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva said Saturday that if some of Venezuela’s political leaders fear a military attack like the one that killed No. 2 FARC leader Raul Reyes in Ecuador, they are admitting that the rebel group has camps on Venezuelan soil.

“Some political leaders in Venezuela say they fear an operation like Operation Phoenix in Venezuela,” which simply means “they are admitting the existence of (FARC) camps in Venezuela. If not, they wouldn’t have that fear,” Silva told reporters.

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My Comment: The murky link between Venezuela's Government and the FARC leadership has been an area of open debate for the past few years. What is known is that the FARC leadership have made their presence known on numerous occasions during many of Chavez's rallies and demonstrations. What is not known with certainty is the level of support that FARC receives from Venezuela when it comes to military equipemnt and logistics.

Venezuelan concerns on an escalation of military operations against FARC on its own soil are probably legitimate. The question that needs to be asked to Venezuela is the following .... is their support of FARC worth it?

Venezuela Prepares For War Against Colombia

JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

Colombia Faces Border Tensions With Venezuela -- Washington Times

Colombia has been building up forces along its eastern border with Venezuela following weeks of provocations by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has threatened war against Colombia for a recent agreement that allows U.S. troops to use Colombia's main military bases.

A new army division of 15,000 men has been formed to protect the 94,000-square-mile frontier region, according to a communique released by Colombia's defense ministry late last month.

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More News On The Conflict Between Colombia And Venezuela

Chavez Brings in the Big Guns as Border Tensions Rise -- The Epoch Times
Chávez Hosts Terrorism International In Caracas -- Counter Terrorism Blog
Colombia asks Venezuela to take a stand on leftist groups that support FARC -- Colombia Reports
Chávez, Colombian VP clash in presidential Summit of Mercosur -- El Universal
Chavez and the ideology of Russian missiles -- Canada Free Press
Chavez's War Wish -- IBD Editorial
Latin America's New Cold War? -- Foreign Policy

Venezuela Continues With Its Arms Buildup (And Threats)

President Hugo Chavez

Chavez: Venezuela Acquires Thousands Of Missiles -- Washington Post

CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez said Monday that Venezuela has received thousands of Russian-made missiles and rocket launchers as part of his government's military preparations for a possible armed conflict with neighboring Colombia.

"They are preparing a war against us," Chavez said during a televised address, repeating a charge he has been making for months. "Preparing is one of the best ways to neutralize it."

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My Comment: With the Venezuelan economy in the dumps .... and essential services breaking down .... Chavez needs his bogeyman .... I guess Colombia is it.

Does Venezuela Want A War With Colombia?

Chavez On The Warpath -- MaCleans

Venezuela seems to be girding for battle with Colombia.

Even as Barack Obama continues to consider deploying more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, another conflict involving U.S. soldiers has been intensifying in Washington’s own backyard. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has recently exceeded his traditional incendiary anti-American rhetoric with talk of war with neighbouring Colombia, a long-time U.S. ally which since 2000 has hosted U.S. troops as part of an anti-drug effort. Chávez has gone so far as to mass 15,000 soldiers on his border with Colombia, where in recent weeks there has been a spate of slayings related to tensions between Venezuelan and Colombian paramilitary groups. On Nov. 8, he ordered his military to prepare for possible armed conflict. “The best way to avoid war is preparing for it,” Chávez told officers on a weekly TV and radio program. Of the U.S., Chávez said, “The empire is more threatening than ever,” and warned Obama to not “make a mistake” in ordering an attack on Venezuela.

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More News On The Colombia - Venezuela Conflict

Venezuela: No direct talks with Colombia on bases -- AP
Former Mexican Prime Minister: “Chavez makes huge weapons purchases in Belarus” -- Charter 97
Chavez says Latin America faces US threat -- Trak.in
Venezuela Announces Capture of Colombian Militia Chief -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Venezuela captures wanted Colombian fugitive -- AP
Colombia's Uribe seeks to ease Venezuela tensions -- Reuters
Venezuelan-Colombian war of words reignites: What next for Chavez? -- VHeadline.com

Tensions Continue Between Colombia And Venezuela

Rebels Say U.S. Spying on Venezuela from Colombian Base -- Latin American Herald Tribune

BOGOTA – The smaller of Colombia’s two main guerrilla groups says the United States is spying on neighboring, leftist-led Venezuela from a Colombian base on the border.

U.S. military personnel have established an “underground base” at a Colombian army battalion headquarters in the northeastern province of Arauca, the National Liberation Army, or ELN, said in a statement posted on its Web site.

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More News On The Growing Tensions Between Colombia And Venezuela

SCENARIOS: How far will Colombia-Venezuela crisis worsen? -- Reuters
Venezuela 'cannot provoke' Colombia -- Al Jazeera
Colombia says will not be provoked by Venezuela -- Reuters
Colombia will not retaliate against Venezuela: Uribe -- Colombia Reports
Six dead after suspected Colombian rebels burn bus -- Reuters
Colombia says its military on 'maximum alert' -- AFP
Border tensions grow as Venezuela blows up bridges -- Scotsman
Bogotá-Caracas face off continues -- El Universal
Chavez praises Carlos the Jackal -- AP
Chavez says destruction of walking bridges to Colombia 'routine' -- Earth Times
Colombia: Tensions and ‘Winds of War' with Venezuela -- Global Voices

Colombian - Venezuelan Tensions Increase After Venezuela Blows Up Bridges That Connect The Two Countries

Colombians walk next to a bridge that crosses into Colombia which was blown up by Venezuelan soldiers Photograph: Stringer/colombia/Reuters

Venezuela Blows Up Border Bridges With Colombia -- The Guardian

Tensions raised between two countries as troops dynamite rural walkways Venezuela claims are used by smugglers and militia.

Venezuela has blown up two pedestrian bridges on its border with Colombia in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the Andean neighbours.

Soldiers destroyed the walkways because they were being used by illegal militia and drug traffickers, said Eusebio Aguero, an army general based in the border state of Táchira.

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More News On The Tensions Between Colombia And Venezuela

Venezuela Dynamites Colombia Bridges as Strain Mounts -- Bloomberg
Border bridges blown up as row worsens -- News.com.au
Colombia-Venezuela divide widens -- Al Jazeera
Colombia accuses Venezuela of blowing up border bridges -- BBC
Colombia says Venezuela blows up two border bridges -- Reuters
Venezuela's Chavez ramps up rhetoric in dispute with Colombia and U.S. -- Vancouver Sun
Chavez's threats of war against Colombia should raise alarm bells -- L.A. Times

Venezuela Ratchets Up The Talk Of War With Colombia

Hugo Chavez Intensifies Conflict Threat With Colombia -- The Telegraph

Hugo Chavez has intensified his country's threat of conflict with Colombia after accusing its South American neighbour of "lies" and "hypocrisy" over hosting US bases.

Venezuela says that Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian president and close ally of Washington, is allowing the US government a dangerous foothold in the region by giving its troops access to Colombia's military bases.

Mr Uribe reacted angrily and urged the United Nations to investigate this week when Mr Chavez told his army to prepare for war with Colombia.

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More News On The Increase of Hostilities Between Colombia And Venezuela

Chavez steps up Colombia war talk -- BBC
Venezuela keeps up war of words with Colombia -- Reuters
Chavez: American deal with Colombia means war -- Hot Air
Chavez won't take Uribe's calls: Foreign Minister -- Colombia Reports
Brazil, US urge talks in Venezuela, Colombia spat -- AP
US urges dialogue between Venezuela, Colombia -- AFP
Fears of a New Cold War in Venezuela and Colombia -- Atlantic Wire

Venezuela Threatens War Against Colombia

Chavez Says Venezuela to Prepare for War as Deterrent -- Bloomberg

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told the military and civil militias today to prepare for war as a deterrent to a U.S.-led attack after American troops gained access to military bases in neighboring Colombia.

Chavez said a recently signed agreement that gives American troops access to seven Colombian bases is a direct threat to his oil-exporting country. Colombia has handed over its sovereignty to the U.S. with the deal, he said.

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More News On Venezuela's Threats To Go To War Against Colombia

Chavez to troops: Prepare for war with Colombia -- AP
Venezuela must prepare for war - Chavez -- News.com.au/AFP
Chavez warns of armed conflict with Colombia -- CBC
Fifteen Thousand Venezuelan Troops in the Frontier with Colombia -- Diario Las Americas
Venezuela sends 15,000 troops to Colombia border -- China Post
Venezuela Minimizes Border Bridge Closure, Calls It Only Temporary -- Latin American herald Tribune
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez says he fears a United States-led invasion launched from neighbouring Colombia -- Radio Netherlands
Colombia asks Spain to help in monitoring border -- Colombia Reports
ANALYSIS - Andean "Cold War" raises risks for Colombia, Venezuela -- Reuters
FACTBOX-History of tensions between Venezuela, Colombia -- Reuters

My Comment: Venezuelans are struggling with basic shortages like water and electricity .... Chavez has to distract everyone's attention to something else. Threatening war against Colombia is his present solution to this crisis.

Colombia Under Threat From Chávez

Hugo Chavez (Photo from Bloomberg)

From Macleans:

Venezuela may be supporting leftist guerrillas in Colombia.

When Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez turned up at a news conference in Caracas last week with anti-tank rocket launchers in tow, it was clear he meant to send a message to Colombia. Now, after weeks of escalation, Chávez says he’s bracing for all-out combat with his South American neighbour.

Relations between the two countries hit rock bottom in late July, when Colombian officials announced that weapons found in the hands of FARC—Colombia’s largest guerrilla army—came from Venezuela. The discovery could not have come at a worse time; tensions had already been mounting due to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe’s recently announced plans to house American troops at its military bases.

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My Comment: Hugo Chavez's ego has also put him in hot water with other countries and organizations. His flirtations with Hezbollah, friendship with Iran .... these are all stunts that bring nothing of value to Venezuela .... but he does it anyway.

But has he given money and weapons to FARC .... it appears that he has.

Chávez Stirs Anxiety Over US Military Deal In Colombia

From The Christian Science Monitor:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez sought a region-wide censure of the pending agreement at a summit Monday in Quito, Ecuador. But other leaders were declined to condemn it outright.

Bogotá, Colombia - Controversy over Colombia's decision to host an expanded US military presence loomed over a summit Monday of South American leaders, which President Álvaro Uribe refused to attend for fear of a diplomatic ambush.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez, who says the increased US presence in neighboring Colombia is aimed at overthrowing his leftist government, had sought a region-wide censure of the pending military cooperation agreement in the summit's closing statement. But other leaders who met privately with Mr. Uribe on his damage-control tour of seven nations last week were less inclined to condemn it outright.

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More News On The Rise Of Tensions Between Colombia And Its Neighbors

Hugo Chávez tells army to prepare for conflict with Colombia -- Times Online
Chávez ups rhetoric in spat with Colombia -- Financial Times
Uribe will have no control over US actions in Colombia: Chavez -- Colombia Reports
Chávez hints "winds of war" because of Colombia-US pact -- El Universal
Colombia denies military incursion into Venezuela -- Colombia Reports
FACTBOX: Friction between Colombia and its neighbors -- Reuters

My Comment: The day that President Obama orders an attack on Venezuela is the day that Hell will freeze over.