A Symbolic Call Across Borders

Speaking in Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro publicly appealed to Colombia’s military and broader society to unite with Venezuela in defense of regional sovereignty.

The remarks were broadcast on state television (VTV) and framed as a response to what Maduro described as escalating U.S. pressure under President Donald Trump.

Addressing “the Colombian military, whom I know very well,” Maduro said he was calling for a “perfect union with Venezuela so that no one dares to touch the sovereignty of our countries.”

The statement marked one of his most explicit overtures to a neighboring country’s armed forces in recent years.

“Perfect Union” and Bolívar’s Shadow

In a longer passage, Maduro extended the appeal beyond the military to Colombia’s “ordinary people,” social movements, and political forces, presenting himself as “a great Colombian that I feel myself to be.”

He explicitly invoked the legacy of Simón Bolívar and Gran Colombia, the short-lived 19th-century federation that once encompassed modern Venezuela and Colombia.

Maduro described regional unity as the “greatest guarantee of peace and stability,” linking contemporary politics to Bolívar’s vision of permanent union and “shared happiness.”

The historical framing underscored the symbolic rather than operational nature of the appeal.

Trigger: U.S. Pressure and Military Posture

The speech followed a series of U.S. actions that Caracas portrays as hostile.

Maduro cited President Trump’s announcement of a “total and complete blockade” on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, as well as an increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, which Venezuelan officials have characterized as a potential prelude to intervention.

Maduro also accused Washington of seeking regime change to install a “puppet government” and seize Venezuelan resources, including oil assets he said were “stolen” from U.S. companies.

Venezuela’s defense minister, Vladimir Padrino López, echoed these concerns, warning publicly of risks to regional stability and supporting Caracas’s request for an urgent UN Security Council meeting.

Regional Silence, Mixed Readings

As of December 18, 2025, there was no official response from Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro or the Colombian military.

Relations between Bogotá and Caracas have improved under Petro, a leftist leader who restored diplomatic ties after years of rupture, yet Colombia has long maintained close security cooperation with the United States and has historically rejected Venezuelan political or military interference.

International media coverage across Latin America and beyond widely circulated the remarks, with some outlets interpreting them as rhetorical escalation and others as an attempt to rally regional solidarity amid Venezuela’s diplomatic isolation.