Colombia must be ready to defend its territory and sovereignty against any hypothetical military action by the United States, the Colombian foreign minister said Tuesday, amid high regional tensions following the US intervention in Venezuela.
Speaking at a press conference in Bogota, Rosa Villavicencio She stated that the Colombian armed forces would have a duty to protect the country in the event of external aggression. She emphasized that, in accordance with international law, every state has the right to self-defense against an attack.
These statements follow remarks by the American president Donald Trumpwhich on Sunday threatened Colombia with military action similar to that recently carried out in Venezuela, where US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro. This operation has caused diplomatic shockwaves in Latin America and beyond.
Colombia, a historical ally of Washington in the region, shares a long border with Venezuela and has seen in recent days an influx of civilians and an increased military presence in border areas, particularly around Cúcuta, due to the security fallout from the Venezuelan crisis.
Without mentioning any concrete military measures, the Colombian foreign minister stressed the need to preserve national sovereignty and prioritize the principles of international law. Her remarks, however, reflect Bogotá's growing concern about an unpredictable regional escalation, fueled by statements from Washington and political instability in Venezuela.
