January 02, 2023, Venezuela: Private vehicles started crossing the border between Colombia and Venezuela for the first time on Sunday in years. It marked the total opening of the shared border, in addition to cargo and people that have been transiting.
The full opening of the common border follows years of tense relations between the two countries that have eased after Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a leftist, took office in August last year. German Umana, Colombia’s commerce minister, told reporters at the crossing that the move would be positive for the economies and societies of both countries.
“We will never allow it again,” Umana said about the closure of the border. Colombian and Venezuelan authorities authorized the opening of the crossing on the Atanasio Girardot bridge, known as Tienditas, the western Venezuelan border state Tachira state last year.
