Tension at Venezuela border: Colombia deploys thousands of troops after US strikes

Colombia has deployed over 30,000 soldiers along its border with Venezuela following the January 3 US strikes and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

According to the Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez, troop presence in areas with high activity of paramilitary groups linked to drug trafficking, including ELN and Tren de Aragua, has been increased, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

He cited changes in Venezuela’s political situation after US intervention as the primary reason for the heightened border security.

Independent Venezuelan newspaper "El Nacional" reports that the border remains calm, with the only notable change being the arrival of a large number of foreign journalists seeking information on Maduro’s capture and potential developments in the country.

In the early hours of January 4, US President Donald Trump stated that Colombian President Gustavo Petro will no longer supply drugs to the US and did not rule out a military operation against Colombia, adding that it sounds good.

During the US intervention in Caracas, Fort Tiuna, La Guaira port, and Higuerote airport were struck. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transported to New York, where they are scheduled to appear in court on January 5, facing charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.

By Jeyhun Aghazada