President Nicols Maduro has launched extended military exercises along Venezuela's border with Colombia, drawing Washington's attention amid rising friction between the South American neighbours.
Maduro has come under mounting pressure from Colombia and the United States, which are among more than 50 nations that back opposition politician Juan Guaid's bid to oust the socialist president. They contend Maduro's re-election in 2018 was bogus.
Tensions spiked recently when Colombia and Venezuela accused each other of harbouring hostile armed groups within their borders that are trying to overthrow the neighbouring government.
In response, Maduro put soldiers on alert and summoned his defence council, saying the machinery of war has started against Venezuela. "The moment has come to defend our sovereignty and national peace by deploying our defense resources in full force," Maduro said on Twitter.
Roughly 150,000 military personnel will conduct drills through September 28, said Remigio Ceballos, strategic commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, who is overseeing operations.
An array of tanks, missile launchers and aircraft were staged at the Garcia de Hevia International Airport near the border. A military band played as the vehicles filed out.
"This is an operation to defend our national territory," Ceballos said on Tuesday, adding that the armed forces are on the watch to intercept attacks from Colombia, the US or any other threat.
Officials in Washington on Tuesday expressed unwavering support for Colombia during this patch of rocky relations with Venezuela. The two countries have a shared history and their border stretches nearly 1,367-mile (2,200-kilometres).
Carlos Trujillo, the US ambassador to the Organization of American States, said it was "totally unacceptable" that Maduro's "illegitimate government" has threatened the region's security and peace.
"Colombia's allies will do everything possible to help one of the best allies we've had not only in the Americas but in the world," Trujillo added during a conference call with reporters.
The US special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, was even more direct. "If there are cross-border attacks from Venezuela to Colombia, we can expect Colombians to react," Abrams said. "And obviously, we would fully support Colombia in that situation."
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