2010 Colombia–Venezuela diplomatic crisis
[1] Uribe presented evidence to the Organization of American States (OAS) and in response, Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia amid speculation of a possible war.
For example, the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a notorious right wing drug trafficking group, maintained control over certain areas of the border through extreme violence and intimidation, targeting both the locals and the government officials.
[3] General Oswaldo Bracho, an army commander, stated that the limited accessibility is compounded by the massive financial influx groups like FARC receive from drug trafficking and smuggling.
[3] The 2008 Andean crisis involved a diplomatic standoff between Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela after the Colombian military crossed into Ecuadorian territory on March 1, 2008 killing over twenty FARC militants.
Chávez was trying to create a humanitarian accord between the two groups by orchestrating the release of 45 FARC political kidnapping victims in exchange for suspected rebels that were jailed in Colombia.
Colombian security forces acted on the wiretap information and entered Ecuadorian territory in the night on March 1, 2008, killing many FARC rebels, including Raúl Reyes.
Venezuelan authorities alleged that travel and identity documents retrieved from the arrested individuals showed strong ties to the Colombian army.
[9] Although Colombia had a poor human rights record at the time, this comment was in line with the objectives of President Uribe's Democratic Security Policy.
President Chávez commented, "if there was any armed aggression against Venezuela from Colombian territory or from anywhere else, promoted by the Yankee empire, we would suspend oil shipments to the United States even if we have to eat stones here."
"[citation needed] Uribe's spokesman, César Velásquez, said "Colombia has never thought of attacking [Venezuela], as its President has told his country in a clearly deceptive move.
[Colombia] continues to insist [on the application of international law to ensure Venezuela] complies with its obligation not to harbor Colombian terrorists.
On August 10, just days after Colombia's new president, Juan Manuel Santos, was sworn in at a ceremony attended by Venezuela's Maduro, both he and Chávez agreed to restore bilateral relations and re-establish diplomatic ties "based on transparent and direct dialogue.
"[15] Venezuela acknowledged that Colombia has a legitimate right to enter into military agreements with the United States, "as long as none of those accords affects the sovereignty of neighbors or becomes a threat.
[17] Some of these developments towards reconciliation between the two countries, specifically comments made by Chávez, have come across as puzzling given the duality of his personality and feelings towards Colombia throughout this entire crisis.
When Uribe was replaced by Santos, Chávez was quick to label him a "threat to the entire region," only to agree to end the border crisis two months later.
[18] Scholar Gregory Wilpert articulates how fear of economic decline and security concerns were the main factors contributing to the rapid regaining of cooperation between the two countries.
Describing the relationship between Santos and Chávez, the former U.S. ambassador to Colombia articulated that both men were likely to be in power in their nations for much of the coming decade, "so it would be in both of their interests to learn to get along.
"[7] The rapid rapprochement between the two leaders, once Santos took the presidency, can be understood through the context of Colombia and Venezuela seeking a return to economic and political stability after a period of turmoil.
During a press briefing in the U.S. State Department, a spokesman said, "Venezuela is obliged, as a member of the United Nations, the OAS, and UNASUR, to deny terrorist groups the ability to operate within its territory.
In a statement by the OAS which included representatives from Mexico, Brazil and Chile, they asked for the countries to resume negotiations as soon as possible to address the dire need to "combat drug trafficking and terrorism on a united front, so that America can continue to be a continent of peace.
