The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, expressed his intention to engage in conversations with Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, to explore the possibility of establishing a special economic zone on the border between both countries. He made this announcement during a speech in Tibú, a border municipality with Venezuela located in the Catatumbo region, where violence generated by guerrilla groups has resulted in a high human cost.
Petro mentioned this proposal in the context of the internal commotion decrees issued by his government on January 24 in Catatumbo, aimed at addressing the violence arising from clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the dissidents of the FARC, particularly Front 33.
One of the measures contemplated in these decrees is the construction of a road connecting the municipality of La Gloria in the department of Cesar with Tibú in Norte de Santander. However, the viability of these decrees is being reviewed by the Constitutional Court since late January, which has generated criticisms and controversies.
In light of the possibility that the decrees may be revoked, Petro proposed the alternative of exploring the creation of a special economic zone on the border, an idea that Maduro has also supported in the past. According to the Colombian president, in the Catatumbo region, the influence of Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan cartels has exacerbated the situation, challenging national sovereignty.
In this regard, Petro pointed out: "The ELN has transformed from a revolutionary movement to 'traqueto' (narcotrafficker)." These problems of violence in the border region of Catatumbo have evolved over time, marking a changing reality even after the peace agreement with the FARC in 2016.