Venezuela blocks border bridge
CUCUTA, Colombia — The Venezuelan government, led by embattled President Nicolas Maduro, has blocked a bridge connecting Venezuela to Colombia, according to Colombian officials and a CNN photojournalist at the scene. The move effectively blocks the passage of humanitarian aid called for by Venezuela’s opposition, should it be delivered via this route.
New images show an orange oil tanker and two large blue containers positioned midway across the three-lane Tienditas Bridge, which connects Cucuta, Colombia, with Venezuela.
Cucuta is one of three collection points for international humanitarian aid called for by Venezuela’s opposition leader and self-declared president Juan Guaido amid Venezuela’s debilitating economic crisis.
Last week, Mr. Guaido identified the three collection points: the Brazil-Venezuela border, an as-of-yet unidentified Caribbean island, and Cucuta.
Mr. Maduro has rejected the international aid, saying, “We are not beggars.”
Juan Caicedo, a spokesperson from Migration Colombia, Colombia’s Ministry of Immigration and Immigration Control, said the Venezuelan military put the blockade into place on Tuesday afternoon, adding that there are cameras monitoring activity on the bridge.
It’s possible the Venezuelan government fears aid crossing the border could be used as cover for an invasion to depose Mr. Maduro.
Mr. Maduro has faced intense pressure since Mr. Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23, invoking a constitutional rule to open a rare challenge to Mr. Maduro’s presidency.
Mr. Guaido, a previously largely unknown opposition leader, has been recognized by Australia, Canada, a group of major European nations, a number of Latin American countries and the United States, which have upped sanctions on the country.
Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry has denounced any international support for Mr. Guaido, suggesting that European governments were acting as part of a U.S.-led effort to topple Mr. Maduro, who has shown no signs of relinquishing power.
On Monday, Canada hosted a meeting of the Lima Group regional bloc to discuss how the international community can further aid the people of Venezuela, including through immediate humanitarian assistance.