Former President Uribe Vélez Calls for Military Intervention in Venezuela

Former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez called on Saturday for an international military intervention in Venezuela to remove Nicolás Maduro from power. This came after Maduro was sworn in as president on Friday, despite allegations of election fraud and widespread rejection from the international community.

A Call for Action in Cúcuta

Uribe made his statement in front of a large crowd on the streets of Cúcuta, a city on the border with Venezuela.

He said: “Let that fraudster know that what we are calling for is an international military intervention with the Venezuelan army to remove the dictatorship from power.”

Uribe, who served as Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010, emphasized that the military intervention should preferably be supported by the United Nations. He also urged that once Maduro is removed, free elections should be called immediately.

Uribe and His Support for Venezuelan Opposition

The former president made this proposal during an event called the “Pro-Freedom Protest for Colombia and Venezuela”.

This event was organized to show support for Venezuelan opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado, who are defending their victory in the July 28th elections.

Reactions from Maduro and Petro

Uribe’s remarks quickly sparked reactions. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded harshly. During a festival in Caracas, he referred to Uribe as a “sad paramilitary and drug trafficker”, and challenged him: “Coward, come to the front with the troops, I’m waiting for you on the battlefield.”

On the other hand, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who was Uribe’s political rival, also reacted.

Dejen de pensar en muerte de hermanos. ¿No se leyeron en la Biblia la historia de Caín? https://t.co/CEPVm88xyX

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 11, 2025

On the social media platform X, Petro said it was better for people in Cúcuta to maintain good relationships at the border and pointed out that the turnout at the protest was not very high.

The Situation in Venezuela Remains Tense

The situation in Venezuela continues to be a major concern worldwide, especially after Maduro’s controversial power grab. This has led to new sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other countries against the Venezuelan government and its officials.

Additionally, following Maduro’s assumption of power, González Urrutia described the act as a “coup,” arguing that he and the opposition had won the 2024 presidential elections.