Venezuela.- The land border between Colombia and Venezuela has returned to normal at its main crossings, following a temporary closure ordered by Freddy Bernal, the governor of Venezuela’s Táchira state. The closure, which lasted until recently, was prompted by claims of an alleged “international conspiracy” coinciding with Nicolás Maduro’s controversial presidential inauguration for a third term.
The border, which spans 2,219 kilometers and connects seven Colombian departments with four Venezuelan states, serves approximately 12 million people. The reopening of border traffic has been welcomed with calm by communities on both sides. Bernal emphasized that the region was under “absolute control” during the closure and assured that peace and tranquility would be maintained.
Venezuelan officials have expressed confidence in the return to stability, with a commitment to peace and rejecting calls for military intervention, such as those proposed by former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.