Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, expressed that the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN) made a serious mistake by choosing to continue on the path of war and drug trafficking, thereby freezing peace talks with his Government. In a speech addressed to the country, Petro lamented this decision, describing it as a sad story that even the FARC did not commit.
The Colombian leader pointed out that the ELN, by deciding to get involved in drug trafficking, has unleashed a spiral of violence in the country, being responsible for the death of farmers and contributing to an increase in violence since mid-April, with the murder of more than 30 police officers and military personnel. This wave of crimes has been largely attributed to the Gulf Clan, the largest criminal gang in Colombia, which has carried out selective killings with its "pistol plan."
Petro highlighted that the dissidents of the FARC, the Gulf Clan, and the ELN are key actors in the escalation of violence in the country, especially in the border region with Venezuela. Despite attempts to initiate peace negotiations with the ELN in 2022, these efforts were interrupted by both the guerrilla and Petro's Government due to violent clashes in the Catatumbo region.
Regarding Venezuela's collaboration in the fight against the ELN, Petro acknowledged the support received from the neighboring country, highlighting the actions taken from Venezuelan territory to combat drug trafficking. This cooperation in security matters is considered fundamental by the Colombian president, who underscored the importance of maintaining solid diplomatic relations with Venezuela to effectively address threats coming from the border.
In conclusion, Petro emphasized the need to jointly tackle the illegal activities affecting the region, preventing the border from being dominated by the mafia. He also lamented the stance of his predecessor, Iván Duque, for not effectively addressing this issue due to political differences with Nicolás Maduro.
