MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Maduro promotes Ambassador in Colombia to Major General

The promotion came alongside a voluntary enlistment drive

Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro promoted his country's Ambassador to Colombia Carlos Martínez to the rank of major general in active reserve.

The measure was adopted on the same day as “Operation Binational Sovereignty, Peace, and Absolute Security,” a new military offensive along the Venezuelan-Colombian border, and sought to reinforce security in the border states of Zulia, Apure, Táchira, and Amazonas. According to Maduro, the operation has “the highest level of coordination” with the Colombian “military and police brothers.”

This promotion comes amid rising tensions between Venezuela and the United States over Washington's anti-drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean. Martínez's rise comes after a militia enlistment drive called by Maduro in response to what he considers “threats” from Washington.

”I have decided and am proceeding to promote him to major general of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) in active reserve,” Maduro said as Martínez showed up in military uniform on his Telegram account.

At the same time, Maduro's government released 13 political prisoners, including opposition figures, activists, and former officials, a move celebrated by their families but viewed by the opposition as a symbolic gesture, with more than 800 people still in prison.

The Bolivarian regime argued that those remaining in jail were detained for the commission of punishable acts, not for their antagonizing political thoughts.

Last week, US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Director Terry Cole accused Caracas of collaborating with Colombian guerrillas such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) to send “record amounts of cocaine” to Mexican cartels that traffic to the US.

Two days earlier, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Washington is prepared to “use all its power” to stop the “flow of drugs into its country,” which would include sending ships and soldiers to waters near Venezuela.

Among those released were prominent opposition leaders Américo de Grazia and Pedro Guanipa.