Venezuela’s government has announced today that they are severing all diplomatic ties with neighboring Colombia, after the later made allegations to the Organization of American States (OAS) that Venezuela was harboring rebel camps along their side of the border.
“At this time, there are several camps that are being strengthened in Venezuela, where they are launching attacks against Venezuelan territory, as well as Colombian territory, and in turn hurting the Venezuelan people,” insisted Colombia’s Ambassador to the OAS.
Venezuela’s envoy denied the claims, but said that if any of Colombia’s rebels had found there way into Venezuela it was because of inaction by the Colombian government. The US has been backing Colombia in its fight against the rebel factions.
Colombia is seeking to send international observers into Venezuela to check on the camps, which Venezuela insists it will resist any efforts by Colombia to force its way into their territory. The two sides have long been at odds but with ties severed the rhetoric seems to be ratcheting up dramatically.
The US deployment in Colombia means that if the tensions eventually spark a direct conflict, the United States would almost certainly become involved on Colombia’s behalf, and leave the US fighting yet another massive war.