At an event with military personnel, dictator Nicolás Maduro sent an effusive message of gratitude to President Gustavo Petro and the Colombian government on Thursday, August 28. The reason was the president's order to move a huge military squadron to the border with that country, where the controversial binational zone already operates.

“I requested the militarization of the Catatumbo border on the Venezuelan side to minimize the mafia's forces. I have ordered the Colombian Army to increase the number of troops in the Colombian Catatumbo,” Petro stated.

"We have 25,000 soldiers in the area. It's not land that wins over the mafia, it's coordination between the two states that does it," he added.

Maduro asserted that this act demonstrates that the binational zone is operating and functioning.

“The coordination of binational zone number one is moving forward. For the sake of sovereignty, peace, and the future prosperity of our border towns. We watch over our land, we care for it, we preserve it, we Venezuelans and Colombians united for peace,” he said.

“Our sister Colombia, with whom we share the same flag, the same sword, the same father,” he added.

Maduro stated that he asked his Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino, to speak with his counterpart, Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. The objective would be to coordinate actions in this area.

At the meeting, Maduro also addressed the recent weeks, amid the advance of the fleet of ships sent by the White House.

"After 20 continuous days of announcements, threats, and psychological warfare; after 20 days of siege against the Venezuelan nation, today we are stronger than yesterday; today we are better prepared to defend peace, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," he said.

“Neither sanctions, nor blockades, nor psychological warfare, nor siege... They have not been able to, nor will they be able to, there is no way they can train Venezuela,” he added.

On the other hand, the White House again made harsh statements against Nicolás Maduro. “I will not get ahead of the president regarding actions by the military... What I can say is that we will use everything at our disposal against drug trafficking. Nicolás Maduro is a dictator and has been indicted,”