Monitoring Desk
UREA, VENEZUELA: In a diplomatic thaw under the new leadership, Venezuela and Colombia on Sunday reopened the remaining section of their shared border that had been closed for years.
Vehicles with registration plates from both countries crossed the Atanasio Girardot bridge in the neighbourhood, which was earlier blocked with containers due to intense tensions, as passengers waved flags and cars honked. The Tienditas bridge was the last to remain closed since the countries restored diplomatic relations last year.
During a ceremony, officials from both nations carried balloons in the colours of their respective flags, yellow, blue, and red, and wore white guayaberas to open the pass officially, according to AFP.
The 1350-mile (2,200-kilometre) border between the neighbours is rife with armed groups that have stoked unrest by fighting for lucrative illegal businesses like drug trafficking and smuggling.
When Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro broke diplomatic connections after Colombia’s then-president Ivan Duque questioned his 2018 reelection, it was partially closed seven years ago and entirely blocked in 2019.
The victory of Maduro in the election was not also recognised by many other nations including the United States and was condemned as rigged.
The first-ever left-wing president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, campaigned to reopen the border as soon as he took office last year.
Goods Truck allowed after Reopening of Border
Goods trucks were permitted to pass through the pedestrian-only border crossings on September 26. Air connections have also subsequently been restored.
The countries want to revive trade, which peaked at $7.2 billion in 2008 but has since declined.
Containers positioned there by the Venezuelan army have blocked the bridge that links Urena, Venezuela, and Cucuta, Colombia.
Millions of people have fled Venezuela due to years of economic disaster, many of whom have settled in Colombia, driving up poverty levels. Venezuela is one of the guarantors of the peace talks between the ELN rebel group and the government of Colombia and the ELN rebel group.
The objective is to arrive at a peace accord similar to the one struck in 2016 with the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Petro declared a cease-fire with the ELN and other armed organizations on Saturday, lasting from January 1 to June 30.
