Venezuela and Colombia strengthen bilateral agenda with meeting of its presidents
On Monday, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro received his Colombian counterpart, President Iván Duque, in Caracas to strengthen the bilateral agenda between the two countries. The meeting occured in the context of the third meeting of the High Level Mechanism of Political Dialogue, agreed to restore relations between the countries and deepen cooperation ties.
History of Dominican–Colombian relations
Venezuela and Colombia have had a long and complex relationship, with periods of good cooperation and others of confrontation and tension. In 2019, tensions between the governments of both countries increased, spurred by border issues and the creation of a Colombian humanitarian corridor.
Objectives of the meeting
At the meeting, both presidents expressed their interest in:
- Respecting International Laws: Establishing commitment to international laws governing notions of sovereignty and security.
- Undertaking joint initiatives: Working together to take on issues of mutual interest, such as illegal mining and trafficking.
- Fostering Cultural Exchange: Enhancing the exchange of cultural and educational experiences between Venezuela and Colombia.
- Enhancing Cooperation: Strengthening cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, border security, and counter-narcotics.
The meeting resulted in both presidents signing an agreement by which they agreed «to take concrete actions to restore the ties between both countries and to promote and protect the integrated use of the border».
Conclusion
The meeting of President Maduro and President Duque marks a crucial step towards normalizing relations between Venezuela and Colombia and the continuation of building trust based on the international principles of cooperation and dialogue. Despite the challenges of achieving significant results of the agenda discussed at the meeting, both countries are optimistic that the process will result in positive consensus.
