Latin America Advisor 2021-10-18 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

December 3, 5251

Are Colombia & Venezuela Seeing Lowered Tensions?

Venezuela and Colombia have reopened their shared border, more than two years after it was closed. // File Photo: Venezuelan Government.

Q

Venezuela reopened its border with Colombia on Oct. 5, more than two years after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro closed it in response to Bogotá’s recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s president. While Colombia unilaterally reopened its borders with Venezuela in June, Maduro waited until this month to take similar action. Colombian President Iván Duque cautioned that the reopening process would be done gradually and only with security standards in place. To what degree is this a full reopening of the border, and will trade flows between the countries continue to be hindered by political discord? Does the opening suggest an improved relationship between the countries? How much will the change allow for further migration from Venezuela?

A

Gustavo Roosen, member of the Advisor board and president of IESA in Caracas: “The problems between Colombia and Venezuela go well beyond those at the border. There is a very heavy conflict to resolve between the two countries that has to do with security and drug trafficking issues that transforms it into a disagreement that is not only bilateral, because it reaches the rest of the continent and the United States. It has to do with the active cooperation of the Nicolás Maduro regime with the Colombian guerrillas. It is necessary to emphasize that violence in Colombia has greatly increased four years after the signing of the Havana peace agreement. The Palace of Nariño is convinced of Caracas’ support for the narcoguerrilla, and it has very strong evidence of it. These issues are the source of continuous verbal aggression between Venezuela and Colombia—even of troop…”

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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