Concerns raised Over Potential Colombia–Venezuela โIntelligence Sharing
A key concern regarding theโค Colombian government’s proposal to share military intelligence wiht Venezuela centers on the potential for that information to fall into theโข hands of armed groups operating in both countries. according toโฃ an academic source,there’s no guarantee that intelligence shared with the Venezuelan army won’t be accessedโ by the ELN or other Colombian criminal organizations active within Venezuelan territory,such as the Second Marquetalia.
This lack ofโค assurance โขraises questions about the legitimacy of any such agreement.The academic argued that without clarity and democratic support, the agreements would beโ “viciated” and lack the impact of an accord reached with a government demonstrably committed to combating illegal armed groups.
The source further โคexplainedโ that Venezuela,”from Chรกvez,” has historically allowed armed groups to move freely across the Colombian-Venezuelan border,particularly in the departments ofโ Santander,Arauca,and Meta,effectively “contaminating” any intelligence exchange with the interests of the current regime.
Political scientist and Doctor in Political Science and International Relations, Socorro โฃRamรญrez, highlighted a critical omission in discussions between the two governments: โฃ “the situation of the colombians arbitrarily detainedโ by the Venezuelan regime. That โissue has not โขbeen put on the table by either of the two governments.”
Laura Bonilla, a researcher at the Peace and reconciliation Foundation, suggested โคthe proposal may be more of a gesture towards the united โคStates than a genuine strategic plan, stating it doesn’tโข appear to be a โ”structured presidential โขorder, with a clear monitoring plan.”
Another political scientist and professor at the Eduardo โPizarro Leongรณmez National โคUniversity cautioned against the exchange โคof โsensitive information given the current โคcircumstances. While Colombia should โavoid supporting potential U.S. intervention in Venezuela, the professor argued โthat an intelligence exchange is currently detrimental to national security.
This report is based on information published by *Elโค Nacional, a member of the GDA โnetwork of leading media outlets in Latin America.*