Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said that Colombia would be willing to grant refuge to Venezuella's authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro if he chose to leave the country as part of a negotiated transition of power, at a time when the United States is intensifying its military operations in the Caribbean.
When asked in a Caracol Radio interview whether Colombia would receive Maduro should he seek exile, Villavicencio responded, "sure, yes," adding that Colombia supports "dialogue and diplomatic negotiation" to defuse regional tensions and is prepared to assist in any transition.
"If that requires a negotiation and a transition, Colombia is willing to support it," she added. "And if that means an exile policy must be granted, we have a refugee policy."
Maduro has dismissed the possibility of leaving Venezuela. Last week he said that despite what he described as 22 weeks of U.S. "psychological terrorism," he would "never" abandon the country or its political project.
The United States began carrying out lethal strikes in September against vessels it says are involved in drug trafficking, following a major military buildup in the Caribbean. More than 80 people have been killed in the attacks. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he may authorize strikes inside Venezuelan territory. Maduro has described the operation as an effort to remove him from power.
Villavicencio's remarks follow an earlier controversial episode in November in which she allegedly claimed she supported a transition plan under which Maduro would hand power to an interim government during an interview with Bloomberg.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry later said the statements circulating "did not correspond" to her actual comments and reaffirmed its adherence to non-interference. Bloomberg had quoted Villavicencio saying Maduro "could leave without necessarily ending up in prison," but the ministry rejected that interpretation. After Villavicencio's denial, Bloomberg proceded to reveal the audio in full, confirming the original remarks.
Tensions have also drawn in Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who on Wednesday said "it is time" for a transitional government in Venezuela "with the inclusion of all" and called for a general amnesty.
Petro argued that responding to U.S. pressure requires "a democratic revolution," not "inefficient repression." He warned both Trump and Maduro that an external conflict would directly affect Colombia, which hosts more than 2.8 million Venezuelan migrants.
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