The former president of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélezhe considered “unacceptable” the creation of a “binational zone” agreed by Gustavo Petro and the dictator of Venezuela, Nicolás Madurothrough memorandum of understanding that poses alleged economic and infrastructure exchanges in the border region.
“This is a step forward in the country’s delivery to the International Criminality already its protectors as Maduro, ”said Uribe in a message for social network X, in which he extended criticism against the Venezuelan regime.
“The binational zone agreed with the tyranny of Maduro is unacceptable. There the crime funded by drug trafficking dominates, sponsored and protected by Maduro.”
In his message he asked Colombians to oppose the creation of that binational zone and prepare for the election of August 7, 2026, in which the new elected government decides its elimination, among the first decisions.
Maduro and Petro agreement
On July 17, Maduro confirmed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries to create the binational zone that would be made up of the border states of Táchira and Zulia, on the Venezuelan side; and for the departments of Norte de Santander, César and La Guajira, of Colombia.
When announcing the signed proposal of “the first binational zone,” he said that this would not only be limited to economic and infrastructure exchanges. “The idea is that it is a peace zone,” he added about the territory in which the replacement of illicit crops is raised, but in which they have operated violent and drug trafficking groups without the police intervention of the two countries.
Maduro also said that the proposal was the result of dialogues among the diplomatic teams of both countries.
The President Petro and his chief of cabinet, Alfredo Saade, had the support, amid criticism for an advanced electoral campaign and their threats against the media.
The catatumbo, we will see
Media pointed out that the Colombian government would have affirmed that any type of joint work must strictly adhere to sovereignty and the respective legal frameworks, under the supervision and control of national authorities.
This would be an answer to Maduro’s signs of having “permanent police and military coordination” to act against “drug traffickers, paramilitaries, sicarial and any kind.”
It was recalled that the most recent antecedent to the binational zone was in March when Petro, visiting the north of Santander, mentioned the intention of creating with Maduro a “special economic zone” in the Catatumbo, region dominated by conflicts between dissidents of the FARC and the ELN, from Venezuela.
That idea, for now, has been discarded, was reported.
