Colombia, Venezuela presidents to meet as ties keep improving
Al JazeeraNov 25, 2022
Colombia, Venezuela Presidents Meet As Ties Keep Improving
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Image copyright: AFP/Getty Images [via Washington Post]
The Facts
On Tuesday, Colombian Pres. Gustavo Petro and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro held talks in Venezuela's capital Caracas in their first meeting since the two countries resumed diplomatic relations after a three-year break.
During their meeting, which Maduro deemed "fruitful and extensive," they agreed to improve trade and security cooperation. They also discussed a possible joint production of fertilizers and Venezuela's re-entry to the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) trade bloc, which it left in 2006.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Colombia's rapprochement with Venezuela is a major blow to the US administration. Prior to Petro, Colombia served as a NATO outpost to advance US geopolitical and military interests in the region. The election of leftist governments across Latin America is now pushing back Washington's influence, paving the way for people-serving economic integration and lasting regional peace.
Pro-establishment narrative
With the election of the Marxist Petro as Colombia's new president, the US has lost its most important military ally in the region. That Bogotá is now opening up to the Maduro dictatorship with its criminal ties to Russia, China, and Iran, and that both governments are now dreaming of socialist economic regional integration, is a dangerous development, and Washington must not stand by idly.
