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Maduro hosts Colombian ambassador as neighbours pledge new era of friendship

VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro hosted Colombian ambassador Armando Benedetti at a welcome event on Monday, signifying restored relations between the Latin American neighbours.

Colombia’s new left-wing President Gustavo Petro has dropped his predecessor Ivan Duque’s recognition of US-backed pretender Juan Guaido and restored relations with Venezuela’s elected government.

Mr Benedetti tweeted: “Relations with Venezuela should never have been severed. We are brothers and an imaginary line cannot separate us.”

The two governments, which have not had formal relations since Bogota recognised Mr Guaido in 2019, agreed to reopen border crossings to commercial traffic and resumed co-operation over handling of armed groups in the border jungles. A summit of the two presidents is now planned.

Colombia has played a key role in US attempts to destabilise Venezuela, including by serving as a launchpad for a cross-border “aid” convoy linked to Mr Guaido’s attempt to seize power by force in 2019 and an armed incursion in 2020 planned from the US, which also aimed to overthrow the government but was quickly overcome.

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