El Gobierno colombiano desplegó 11.000 militares en la frontera con Venezuela luego de la captura de Nicolás Maduro

The Colombia-Venezuela border remains under heightened surveillance, following recent U.S. bombings in Caracas and other cities, as well as the announcement of the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

President Gustavo Petro ordered an increase in military and assistance presence in the border area. This decision is in response to the potential mass arrival of Venezuelan refugees and aims to strengthen Colombia’s political stance amidst the crisis, according to Noticias Caracol.

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The operational deployment began after an extraordinary security council. The Colombian Government activated a unified command post in Cúcuta, regarded as the center for military and humanitarian coordination in the region.

According to Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez, who spoke with Noticias Caracol, 11,000 military personnel are already deployed in Catatumbo, along with additional forces in Norte de Santander, La Guajira, Arauca, and Vichada.

“Troops have already been deployed. Military Commander General Hugo López met with the military leadership in the area on December 31 to reinforce the presence further. There are 11,000 soldiers in Catatumbo, but we can also add all the additional military and brigades in other departments. Significant intelligence and mobility capabilities have also been deployed to enhance our response,” commented the minister.

Additionally, capacity in intelligence and mobility has been coordinated to ensure immediate responses to potential emergencies. Actions include enhanced surveillance at key locations such as the Simón Bolívar international bridge and other strategic border crossings.

Meanwhile, the Government has initiated a comprehensive strategy for humanitarian assistance in anticipation of a potential influx of migrants. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd), Civil Defense, the International Red Cross, and local authorities are maintaining constant contact to ensure assistance at major border crossings, according to statements to the media.

Logistics prioritize material resources and specialized personnel at points of highest traffic.

Currently, border crossings, including Villa del Rosario and the Simón Bolívar bridge, remain open, and the situation is stable. Regular circulation is reported, with the presence of armed forces boosting local confidence. Authorities are focused on prevention, addressing both potential flows of Venezuelans and possible security threats.

The alert level was raised due to potential actions by illegal armed groups. Minister Sánchez detailed that the measures aim to preemptively neutralize any attacks by the National Liberation Army (ELN) and other criminal organizations classified as transnational organized crime by Colombian authorities. There are also concerns regarding security at the diplomatic missions of the U.S. and Venezuela in Colombia, in light of potential disturbances.

Politically, the Colombian Government, led by Gustavo Petro, maintains a firm stance against U.S. intervention. Both Noticias Caracol and EFE news agency report the president’s condemnation of the bombings and defense of the sovereignty of Latin American countries.

From a migration perspective, according to EFE, approximately 2.8 million Venezuelans have settled in Colombia due to successive waves of migration across the 2,219 kilometers of shared border. This background heightens authorities’ sensitivity to a potential new increase in displaced persons.

In this context, the Government’s immediate actions aim to ensure both the security of the border as well as assistance to the vulnerable population, prioritizing the response to transnational organized crime and the humanitarian risks posed by the current situation.