Calls for Unity Among Guerrilla Groups in Latin America

Reports indicate that Latin America’s prominent guerrilla factions are being urged to set aside their long-standing conflicts and unite against President Donald Trump. This call for cohesion has grown following the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which has sparked concerns about a possible U.S.-supported military intervention.

The plea for unity was notably made by Colombia’s notorious rebel leader, Nestor Gregorio Vera, known as “Ivan Mordisco.” He released a video urging rival factions to collaborate, despite years of violent disputes. Vera emphasized that now is the time to put differences behind them.

In his video, which featured him dressed in camouflage alongside armed fighters, he remarked, “The shadow of the interventionist eagle looms over everyone equally. I want you to put aside these differences.” He stressed the call for unity, stating that they should form a substantial rebel force to confront their adversaries.

The National Liberation Army (ELN), which is Colombia’s largest guerrilla group and dominates significant areas along the Colombia-Venezuela border, was specifically mentioned in his appeal.

Experts have noted the severe humanitarian impact of the ongoing violence between the factions, particularly the FARC rebels and the ELN. Jorge Mantilla, a security analyst, acknowledged this brutality yet pointed out that Mordisco’s call to unify against U.S. interference suggests a strategic shift.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla himself, is pushing for a targeted effort to eradicate drug-trafficking groups, recognizing the potential threat a united front of rebels could pose. He has reached out to Venezuela’s new leadership to combat this issue collectively.

Speculations about a joint military initiative involving the U.S., Colombia, and Venezuela have also emerged, raising the possibility that the ELN could face significant dissolution after decades of rebellion.

Guerrilla operations persist along the extensive border between Venezuela and Colombia, with the ELN, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., controlling illegal mining and major drug-producing areas. Following Maduro’s arrest, the ELN vowed to resist U.S. influence “to the last drop of blood.”

While some analysts remark on the ELN’s ideological motivation rooted in defending the Bolivarian Revolution, others like Angelica Rettberg from the University of the Andes express skepticism about their current strength. She suggested that even a unified entity would not necessarily safeguard them from potential U.S. actions.