Colombian President Gustavo Petro has visited Caracas, becoming the first foreign leader to travel to Venezuela since the removal of Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was captured during a US military raid on January 3 and brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Following the ousting, Delcy Rodriguez assumed power as the interim president.
President Petro was welcomed by Rodriguez at the Miraflores presidential palace. Border security loomed large during the visit, as the two leaders focused on the challenges facing their shared frontier.
The two leaders announced military cooperation and intelligence-sharing measures to combat crime and border mafias. Furthermore, they agreed to increase trade and collaborate on bilateral efforts to ensure electricity provision to western Venezuela, which frequently suffers from blackouts.