Colombia troop deployment at Venezuela border raises questions

Move risks escalating tensions, analysts say, as two countries gradually reopen shared border after years-long closure.

Bogota, Colombia – Colombia has sent 14,000 soldiers to its border with Venezuela, which is reopening this week after a three-year closure, in a move rights groups and political analysts say could fuel tensions between the countries.

The Venezuelan government began the process of reopening the border on Tuesday by removing containers placed at the Simon Bolivar International Bridge in 2019.

At the time, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had ordered the closure when a United States-backed humanitarian convoy planned to cross the bridge to deliver aid amid huge shortages of basic food and medical supplies in the country.