BOGOTÁ, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro agreed with his US counterpart Donald Trump to take "joint action" against cocaine-smuggling guerrillas on the border with Venezuela, Bogota's interior minister said Thursday. Trump and Petro "committed to taking joint actions" against the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia's last remaining major armed rebel group, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said in an interview with Blu Radio. Colombia accuses the ELN of launching attacks and kidnappings of Colombian soldiers and retreating to rear-base locations in Venezuela. Petro asked Trump "to help strike hard at the ELN on the border" with Venezuela, Benedetti said. After Petro criticised the United States for seizing Maduro in Caracas on January 3, Trump told Petro to "watch his ass."

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 09, 2026 02:44 UTC