Colombia's Defense Minister leads a government delegation to visit Venezuela

On the 13th local time, Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez led a government delegation on a visit to Venezuela. Also accompanying him was Colombia’s Foreign Minister Villavicencio. For security reasons, the meeting between Colombian President Petro and Venezuela’s Acting President Rodríguez, which had been scheduled for that day, was temporarily canceled. On the 12th, Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Acting President, informed the Colombian government that she had received a security report warning that illegal armed groups were moving in border areas between the two countries. Due to force majeure, Rodríguez decided to cancel her trip to Cúcuta, a Colombian border city. The two countries subsequently said in a statement that the meeting would still take place, with the date to be determined. The two governments also reaffirmed their willingness to “strengthen mutual trust, cooperation, and bilateral relations by promoting development and integration in border areas.” (CCTV News)