Colombian President Petro orders military deployment to Venezuelan border, condemning US strikes as an assault on Latin American sovereignty.
BOGOTÁ: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the deployment of military forces to the Venezuelan border following US military strikes.
Petro described Washington’s actions as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America and warned they would result in a humanitarian crisis.
While proposing dialogue to resolve the situation, the leftist president announced the border deployment on social media platform X.
Petro made no mention of the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a close regional ally.
He earlier requested an “immediate” meeting of the Organization of American States and the UN to establish the international legality of the US aggression.
Colombia holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council this year, prompting its call for the body to be convened.
Petro has been a vocal critic of previous US military deployments ordered by Donald Trump to fight alleged drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
The president added that he had implemented measures to preserve stability at the border.
An AFP reporter observed normal conditions at the main crossing between the two countries.
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said security forces had activated all capacities to prevent any attempted terrorist attack by illegal groups like the National Liberation Army.
Trump recently stated he would not rule out striking drug-production laboratories in Colombia as part of his anti-drug strategy.
Petro previously condemned that statement as a threat of invasion.
