The Venezuelan government has estimated that more than 1,300 vehicles crossed the Atanasio Girardot bridge, better known as ‘Tienditas’, following the reopening of the border with Colombia on Sunday, in an unprecedented gesture of rapprochement between the two neighboring countries since 2015.
Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramon Velasquez said that «more than 977 vehicles and 384 motorcycles» crossed the bridge, which connects the Colombian department of Norte de Santander with the Venezuelan state of Tachira, as of Monday.
The border between Colombia and Venezuela remained closed for seven years, but the coming to power of the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, marked a turning point in 2022 and in early December the full reopening of the crossing points was announced.
The bridge was completed in 2015, but was never inaugurated due to political problems. In 2019, Venezuelan authorities blocked the passage through this road infrastructure with containers, after the opposition tried to bring alleged humanitarian aid into the country, which Caracas called an invasion attempt.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
