How Venezuela complicates peace talks in Colombia

If the ELN should demobilise, its role in cross-border drug-trafficking is likely to weaken. This gives Mr Maduro reason not to support the demobilisation, if, as the United States’ Treasury has claimed, he is profiting from narcotics shipments. In such circumstances, it is not surprising that Colombia should call into question Venezuela’s role as an honest arbiter of the peace talks. For the ELN, the price of a peace deal with Mr Duque’s government is likely to be the severing of its ties to the Venezuelan dictatorship. It has not yet shown itself to be willing to break that link. More…