The border "is a difficult environment" for the meeting between Petro and Rodríguez, says Colombian Ombudsman
Colombia's Ombudsman, Iris Marín, told EFE that the border region where the last-minute canceled meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez was to be held "is a truly difficult environment in terms of security." The governments of Colombia and Venezuela reported that the meeting scheduled for this Friday between the two heads of state, which was to be held at the Atanasio Girardot border bridge, was suspended "due to force majeure."
TL;DR
- The meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez was canceled at the last minute.
- The reason for the cancellation was "force majeure," with security concerns cited as a major factor.
- Colombia's Ombudsman, Iris Marín, described the border region as "a truly difficult environment in terms of security" due to the presence of armed groups.
- The Atanasio Girardot bridge area is known for the presence of FARC dissidents, the ELN guerrilla, criminal groups like Tren de Aragua, and paramilitary groups.
- The meeting was intended to discuss economic, commercial, and security issues along the 2,219-kilometer common border.
- The cancellation occurred shortly after Petro's call with US President Donald Trump, which covered energy, illicit crops, and drug trafficking cooperation.