STORY: Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino stated on Tuesday (October 21) that Venezuela's commitment to supporting Colombia remains unchanged amid heightened tensions between the South American nation and the United States.

In his televised address, Padrino vowed Venezuela's military support to Colombia against US actions saying "Colombia must know that it can count on the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, the people of Colombia must know that they have on their side moral and physical support."

The pledge comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on the South American nation and halt all payments to it.

Trump also called Colombian President Gustavo Petro an "illegal drug leader" on Sunday (October 19), which Petro's government described as offensive. Trump's drug leader comments marked a new low in relations between Washington and Bogota, which the U.S. president accuses of being complicit in the illicit drug trade.

Padrino also criticized foreign policies towards Latin America, asserting, "Anyone who doesn't agree, kneel and submit, bow their head to North American imperialism already runs the risk of being labelled as a drug trafficker."

Venezuelan officials on Tuesday showcased "Operation Lightning of Catatumbo 2025," a military campaign targeting alleged drug trafficking camps near the Colombian border, highlighting the government's ongoing security efforts. Footage released by Venezuelan Government TV displayed the destruction of what authorities claimed were drug trafficking camps in Zulia state, near the border with Colombia.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF OPERATION "LIGHTNING OF CATATUMBO 2025" SHOWING DESTRUCTION OF ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKING CAMPS / SOUNDBITES FROM VENEZUELAN DEFENCE MINISTER VLADIMIR PADRINO

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: ZULIA, VENEZUELA (RELEASED OCTOBER 21, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (SPANISH NARRATION)

1. VARIOUS OF "OPERATION LIGHTNING OF CATATUMBO 2025" SHOWING DESTRUCTION OF ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKING CAMPS

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 21, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN DEFENCE MINISTER, VLADIMIR PADRINO, SAYING:

"Colombia must know that it can count on the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. The people of Colombia must know that they have on their side moral and physical support, and deployment of our force in our territory to defend against all threats, all threats that loom over the border."

ZULIA, VENEZUELA (RELEASED OCTOBER 21, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (SPANISH NARRATION)

3. VARIOUS OF "OPERATION LIGHTNING OF CATATUMBO 2025" SHOWING DESTRUCTION OF ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKING CAMPS

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 21, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN DEFENCE MINISTER, VLADIMIR PADRINO, SAYING:

"Anyone who doesn't agree, kneel and submit and bow their head to North American imperialism, already runs the risk of being labelled as a drug trafficker. This is a crude strategy, a truly outlandish strategy, a senseless strategy, a vulgar strategy that offends the intelligence of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean."

ZULIA, VENEZUELA (RELEASED OCTOBER 21, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (SPANISH NARRATION)

5. VARIOUS OF "OPERATION LIGHTNING OF CATATUMBO 2025" SHOWING DESTRUCTION OF ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKING CAMPS (SLOW MOTION ADDED AT SOURCE)

6. MEMBERS OF THE BOLIVARIAN NATIONAL ARMED FORCES SHOUTING SLOGAN (Spanish): "Always loyal, never traitors, we will win"