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On February 4th, the Lima Group held a meeting on Venezuela, with representatives from the US and the EU also in attendance. The result were the “Lima Group Declaration” and the “Ottawa Declaration”.
The Lima Group Declaration comprises 17 points, which overall recognize and support Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela. It also accepted the request from Guaido and welcomed him and the country of Venezuela in the Lima Group.
It further said that a change of government in the Latin American country should take place without the use of force.
The declaration also claimed that any attempts for dialogue initiated by international actors with the group were under the patronage of the “Maduro regime.”
Furthermore, it called for the National Armed Forces of Venezuela to support the Interim President in his “constitutional functions as their Commander in chief.”
They reject the Supreme Court’s decision to block Guaido from leaving the country and freezing his assets. It also emphasized on the important role the Court had played in the establishment of democracy.
Finally, the Lima Group called for the international community to block attempts by Maduro’s government to conduct financial and trade transactions abroad.
The document was signed by 11 out of 14 members of the Lima Group: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru.
The Ottawa Declaration also expressed support of Guaido and called for the permission of humanitarian aid to those in need. It did not make any calls for the Armed Forces to support the Interim President.
Meanwhile, Juan Guaido appears to be moving ahead with plans to bring in humanitarian aid to the Colombian border city of Cucuta, where the U.S. government will transport and store food and medical supplies destined for Venezuela.
Once stockpiled, the Venezuelan opposition will try to move the humanitarian aid into the country without coordinating it with the military.
“The move will be a test for Venezuela’s military, which is deployed on the Venezuelan side of the border crossing and will have to choose whether to obey Maduro’s orders, or allow the much-needed supplies into the country.”
At the same time, another Venezuelan officer defected and recognized Guaido as Venezuelan Interim President. Captain Hector Luis Guevara Figueroa announced his decision in a video posted on Twitter:
Military pilot Hector Luis Guevara Figueroa recognises @jguaido as Constitutional President#Venezuela #4F pic.twitter.com/0qhEbDKCek
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 4, 2019
Army pilot Carlos Vásquez called on the Venezuelan military to recognize Guaido:
Army pilot Carlos Vásquez called on his comrades-in-arms to recognise @jguaido as President of Venezuela#Venezuela #4F pic.twitter.com/L0SP7KX9PT
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 4, 2019
There are also videos showing Colombian protesters near Cucuta demanding that the Venezuelan military allow humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
This video shows Colombian protestors yesterday demanding that the Venezuelan military allow Humanitarian aid into Venezuela. This video is shot on the Puente international Simón Bolivar between Cúcuta, Colombia and San Antonio de Táchira, Venezuela #Colombia #Venezuela #4F pic.twitter.com/TBxh9Ol7q8
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 4, 2019
At the same time, Venezuelan troops were seen patrolling the streets of San Antonio de Táchira on the Colombian border.
Overnight, Venezuelan soldiers and a BTR-80 were seen patrolling through the streets of San Antonio de Táchira on the Colombian border#Venezuela #Colombiapic.twitter.com/78KS1FKJeE
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 4, 2019
They had also blocked the border crossing.
Venezuelan troops blocking the border crossing at San Antonio de Táchira overnight #Venezuela #4feb pic.twitter.com/67YaGRTbCr
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 4, 2019
Also on February 3, a military convoy was seen moving towards the border with Colombia:
In the early hours of February 5th, a Colombian Air Force C-130 landed in Cúcuta and dropped off more Colombian soldiers.
Confirmed: Tonight, a Colombian Air Force C-130 landed in Cúcuta and dropped off more Colombian soldiers . These soldiers will likely help providing humanitarian aid to Venezuela#Venezuela #Colombia pic.twitter.com/FiTuDvlJli
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 5, 2019
Thus, it appears that both Colombia and Venezuela seem to be positioning troops on the respective sides of the border. The Colombian soldiers are presumably there to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
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