STORY: Army vehicles, soldiers were seen inspecting vehicles at checkpoints, patrolling a Colombian-Venezuelan border crossing on Friday (August 29), one day after President Gustavo Petro ordered the reinforcement of military presence in the area to "reduce the mafia's forces as much as possible."

The order entails the Colombian Army increasing the number of soldiers to combat criminals in the Catatumbo region, where there are currently 25,000 soldiers, Petro said on his X account on Thursday (August 28).

While some residents expressed reservations about the militarization, others supported it for security reasons.

"I don't agree with that because Petro needs to worry more about the Colombian state than about others," said Loida Manrrique, a local resident. However, Gisela Moreno added, "As long as they don't close the border so they don't affect us, everything is good, but yes because it's more surveillance and such."

The move comes as tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising amid a large U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, which U.S. officials say aims to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

U.S. President Donald Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border.

The Pentagon has not indicated publicly what exactly the U.S. mission will be, but the Trump administration has said it can now use the military to go after drug cartels and criminal groups and has directed the Pentagon to prepare options.

On Thursday (August 28), Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro praised Petro for his decision to strengthen security in the Catatumbo region, a key area along the shared border between the two countries.

Maduro's government also said last week it would send 15,000 troops to states along its western border with Colombia to combat drug trafficking groups.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VILLA DEL ROSARIO, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF SOLDIER IN FRONT OF ARMY ARMOURED VEHICLE

2. SOLDIER INSPECTING CAR TRUNK AT CHECKPOINT

3. SOLDIER AT BORDER BRIDGE

4. CARS PASSING THROUGH BORDER GATE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN BORDER AREA RESIDENT, LOIDA MANRRIQUE, SAYING:

"I don't agree with that (sending military) because Petro needs to worry more about the Colombian state than about others, that's clear and straightforward. Right? Each with their own problem. If this man (Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro) doesn't want to resign and continues to persevere in staying as President of the Republic of Venezuela, even though he wasn't chosen, OK so leave, gather your things, get going and don't do more harm, see, because Venezuelans have suffered a lot."

6. SOLDIER WITH MACHINE GUN IN BORDER AREA

7. SOLDIERS AT CHECKPOINT

8. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ON SIMON BOLIVAR BRIDGE

9. SOLDIERS IN FRONT OF ARMORED VEHICLE

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN RESIDENT, GISELA MORENO, SAYING:

"Well yes and no, as long as they don't close the border (REFERRING TO: More military in border area) so they don't affect us everything is good, but yes because it's more surveillance and such."

11. VARIOUS OF POLICE AND MILITARY INSPECTING VEHICLES AT CHECKPOINT

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN RESIDENT, YERLY DAZA, SAYING:

"I have interacted with those from the Army, they have only told me that it is for security measures, in case there is any dispute in Venezuela to protect the Colombian side."

13. VARIOUS OF MILITARY IN BORDER AREA

INTERNET (AUGUST 28, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

14. POST FROM COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO POSTED ON X REQUESTING MILITARIZATION OF COLOMBIAN-VENEZUELAN BORDER READING (Spanish):

"I requested the militarization of the Catatumbo border on the Venezuelan side in order to reduce the mafia's forces as much as possible.

I have ordered the Colombian army to increase the number of troops in the Colombian Catatumbo region.

We have 25,000 soldiers in the area.

It is not the land that defeats the mafia, it is the coordination between the two states that achieves this."

INTERNET (AUGUST 29, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

15. POST FROM PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO ON X REJECTING ANY FOREIGN INVASION READING (Spanish):

"Neither Colombia nor the Venezuelan opposition in Venezuela, nor any self-respecting Latin American, should request or welcome a foreign invasion of our soil.

The problems of Latin Americans and Caribbean people are solved by Latin Americans and Caribbean people.

With Europe or North America or China or Africa, we talk about our common problems as equals and as human beings, not as servants."