By Ernesto Rodriguez
February 28, 2022—Neighbors can be a complex issue in international politics. While having an economic and political ally next door can be beneficial—after all, that’s the whole conceit of the European Union—it doesn’t always work that way. When you have a neighbor that has significant political differences or is even an open enemy, it can be catastrophic. Just ask Ukraine.
In South America, relations between Colombia and Venezuela are quite complicated. They have been difficult and complex since Hugo Chávez-led Chavismo, a radical left-wing ideology, came to power in the late 1990s.
A Shared History And Culture
The two countries share a 2,219-km (1,379-mile) border, a common language and many similarities in the gastronomic tastes, music, geography and culture. They even shared the same country during a decade in the 1800s.
Understanding this shared culture, it’s easy to see why Colombia is a big hub for Venezuelan migration. In recent years, Colombia received 2 million Venezuelans fleeing their country.
Columbia’s Troubles
By the time Chávez came to power in Venezuela, Colombia was in a weird situation. Guerrillas were still causing chaos even if it was obvious they were not going to win their war. Moreover, the country was just coming out of the shadow of Pablo Escobar‘s monstrous reign as a drug lord.
Then, of course, Álvaro Uribe happened. The former Colombian president is one of the most controversial figures in South American politics. He is recognized for two major things: For finally squashing the guerrillas like the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia); and for hitting hard against drug trafficking.
FARC: In late 2016, the Colombian government ratified its peace accord on FARC, otherwise known as Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. FARC is a Marxist guerrilla organization known for military tactics, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking. In 2017 FARC disarmed following the peace deal with the Colombian government. Its members formed a political party.
At the same time, he has been criticized for ignoring human rights to accomplish those goals, and he has an open investigation in Colombia that might still take him to court. He also has been signaled for changing the constitution, so he could be legally reelected.
Chavismo In Venezuela & FARC in Colombia
Uribe held a strong position against the guerrillas and drugs immediately that put him on a collision course with Hugo Chávez. The late Venezuelan leader defended FARC’s revolutionary Marxist ideals and even gave sanctuary to some of its members.
Tensions between the two political leaders rose from the start of Uribe’s presidency. Chavez, who also accused Uribe of supporting the United States imperialism, kept pushing back at him in speeches every time he could.
These tensions escalated until 2010 when the Colombian leader accused Caracas of giving armament to FARC’s forces. The immediate reaction from Venezuela was to kick out the Colombian diplomatic mission from the country. Then, the tensions kept escalating until after Uribe had finished his second term. Finally, his successor Juan Manuel Santos managed to broker peace.
Maduro, Migration & A Diplomatic Row
Still, the relationship is an uneasy one for both countries. It grew worse after Chavez’s death in 2013. A diplomatic row ensued after Nicolas Maduro took the presidency. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos met with Henrique Capriles , who contested the result of his narrow loss in the presidential election against Maduro. In return, Maduro kicked out the staff at the Colombian embassy.
But right now it is Iván Duque, the current president of Colombia, who is pointing the finger towards Venezuela. In various occasions, Duque has accused the Maduro government of hiding armed forces that want to keep the guerrilla movement going (even after a peace treaty was signed in 2016 by the FARC leaders), and of trying to destabilize the Colombian government during the protest movement in the country in 2019 and 2021. But Duque has been a critical ally of the millions of Venezuelan migrants who fled the country in the midst of the economic and political crises.
“We have decided to make a very bold move based on principles, which is to embrace the 1.8 million brothers and sisters that have left Venezuela with frozen bones, lacking the access to many services, and be able to say even though we’re not a rich country, it is our moral duty to allow them to have access to opportunities in Colombia,” Duque told the U.S.-based Wilson Center last September.
2022: What’s Next
The relationship between Venezuela and Colombia is about to take another turn. This year, Colombia has a presidential election, and for the first time in a while, the favorite comes from the left. Gustavo Petro, who right now looks like a clear favorite in the opinion polls, has shown an important respect for the figure of Chavez, even his more recent declaration have been critical of the Maduro regime. Still time will tell, in the end you can’t choose your neighbors.
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