Venezuela Deploys 15,000 Troops to Border
(MENAFN) Venezuela’s Minister of the Interior announced on Monday that 15,000 military personnel will be stationed in the western border states of Zulia and Tachira, both adjacent to Colombia.
According to Diosdado Cabello, the primary mission of the deployment is to "ensure peace" and tackle criminal elements operating in the area.
The initiative will incorporate air support, drone surveillance, and what Cabello described as a "riverine deployment" to enhance border security.
This action comes amid escalating strain in the region.
Tensions surged recently after the United States increased its reward for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, raising the bounty to $50 million.
Additionally, American military units have been dispatched to the Caribbean, signaling a growing concern over Venezuela’s activities.
Cabello also called on Colombian leadership to contribute to stabilizing the area, urging them to remove individuals attempting to perpetrate crimes along the border.
He emphasized shared responsibility, stating, "Anyone who has relations with criminals, with criminal gangs, should assume their responsibility, and we will assume ours."
He further reassured the public of the government's commitment to maintaining order: "If our people can be sure of anything, it's that we will make every effort in that area, and the 15,000 men will have the full support of the police forces. This is a joint effort, a team effort. I assure you that right now, there are operations, and we are destroying some (criminal) camps."
At the same time, Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez dismissed allegations from the United States suggesting that Venezuelan authorities are collaborating with Colombian insurgents in the cocaine trade.
These claims were made by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole, who accused Venezuela of assisting Colombian guerrillas in distributing unprecedented quantities of cocaine to Mexican drug cartels, with the U.S. as the intended destination.
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