Venezuela and Colombia Cancel Border Summit

Cancellation of Venezuela–Colombia Presidential Meeting

On Thursday, the Venezuelan and Colombian governments announced the cancelation of a highly anticipated meeting between their presidents scheduled for the following day near their shared border. The talks marked Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez's first official meeting with a Latin American leader since her inauguration in January, following the US military action to depose then-President Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez and Colombian President Gustavo Petro were expected to address border security issues. These included the presence of illegal armed groups connected to drug trafficking, as well as the potential for Colombia to import Venezuelan natural gas.

Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a joint statement, cited "force majeure" as the reason for the meeting's cancellation, though they offered no further details. They also indicated that the meeting would be rescheduled. This announcement arrived just as preparations were underway for the high-level diplomatic talks planned along the border shared by the two nations.

Plans to Strengthen Bilateral Relations

The statement stated that Petro continues to invite Rodríguez to the presidential summit, and that both administrations are committed to strengthening trust, cooperation, and bilateral relations. Officials from both countries indicated that, despite the abrupt cancelation, conversation and coordination between the two governments will continue.

The planned summit was supposed to focus mainly on cross-border security and economic collaboration. Authorities have expressed worry about the activities of illegal armed organizations related to drug trafficking operating along the border between the two countries. Energy cooperation was also expected to be a major concern, notably the likelihood of Colombia acquiring natural gas from Venezuela.

Phone Call Between Petro and Trump

Petro's office reported that the Colombian leader called U.S. President Donald Trump and wished him "success" in his meeting with Rodríguez. The contact came just before the countries announced that the presidential summit had been cancelled.

While no explanation was provided for the governments' alleged "force majeure" circumstances, both sides underlined their intention to reschedule the meeting and maintain bilateral cooperation.

Related: Read also: Shell Eyes Venezuela Gas Deals Amid LNG Push, American Airlines to Resume Venezuela Flights, and Venezuela Debates Mining Reforms for Foreign Investment.