After years, private vehicles start crossing Colombia-Venezuela border again

URENA (Venezuela) – On Sunday, private vehicles crossed between Colombia and Venezuela for a first time in many years. This marked the total opening up of the border.

After years of tension between the countries, the full opening of the border was made possible by the election of Gustavo Petro, a leftist president of Colombia.

German Umana (Colombia’s commerce minister) told reporters at the crossing that the decision would benefit both the economies and the societies of the two countries.

Umana stated that “We will not allow it again” in reference to the closure of the border.

Late last year, Colombian, Venezuelan, and Venezuelan authorities approved the opening of the crossing at the Atanasio Girardot Bridge, also known as Tienditas. This bridge is the western border state Tachira in Venezuela.

Reporting by Anggy Polanco (Urena); Additional reporting by Mayela Armes in Caracas. Editing by Nick Zieminski