The eyes of the world are on this controversial event, which will be attended by delegations from both countries and the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. After 2,595 days, the passage of cargo vehicles across the Colombian-Venezuelan border will mark the beginning of a new era of commercial exchange.
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The reopening of the border has generated enthusiasm among some, but has also drawn criticism from others. According to ‘Forbes’ magazine, some Colombian companies consider that there is no “effective control” that prevents criminal gangs from taking over the passage of goods.
For her part, the executive president of AmCham Colombia stated for the portal ‘As’ that: “(The reopening) implies correcting the enormous gaps of informality and illegality that were taking over the border strip due to the absence of control and disconnection mechanisms. between the authorities.
an unexpected closure
An attack against soldiers of the Bolivarian Armed Forces was the trigger
for the president of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro to announce the unilateral closure of the border with Colombia on August 19, 2015. Although initially it was a 72-hour closure, the situation worsened.
Expulsion of two thousand Colombians
The situation worsened that same year when the Venezuelan National Guard detained, evicted, and expelled two thousand Colombians from their homes, only to later demolish them. The event caused Colombians to return to national territory, according to the ‘DW’ broadcasting service.
A gradual opening?
In 2016, then Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Nicolás Maduro agreed to a gradual reopening of the border. According to the public company ‘RTVE’, the pedestrian crossing began on August 13 under “immigration control” and from 5 am to 8 pm
a concert war
The Venezuela Aid Live solidarity concert that took place in Cúcuta in 2019 also contributed to increasing tension between the two countries, as it aimed to raise funds and donations to help the population affected by the country’s economic, political and social crisis. neighbour.
For his part, Maduro responded by giving a series of concerts called Hands off Venezuela in an attempt to counter the presentations in the Colombian country. According to ‘CNN’, the initiative was given in rejection of the “interventionist claims of the US and Colombian governments.”
Guaidó effect
The panorama turned grim again when Maduro announced the breaking of relations with Colombia after the self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó tried to enter vehicles with humanitarian aid into Venezuelan territory in 2019.
The pedestrian opening that took place in 2020 was quickly suspended due to the pandemic. It was not until 2021 that the pedestrian crossing over the Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paula Santander international bridges returned to normal operation -as it currently does- according to ‘DW’.
A reopening of border trade
After the symbolic act of this September 26, it is expected that not only cargo transport will resume, but that the reopening will bring more job opportunities for the inhabitants of the region, as well as a better quality of life.
Twitter: @infopresidency
“As a first step, the air connection and cargo transport between our countries will be resumed. We confirm the Government’s commitment to restore brotherly relations”, were the words of Gustavo Petro on his Twitter account on September 9.
Twitter: @infopresidency
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