Venezuela's neighbour Colombia sounds alarm over Caracas explosions, urges de-escalation

Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. (AFP)

• Venezuela declares emergency after alleged US military aggression in Caracas
• Explosions and aircraft reported over Caracas; damage details unclear
• Colombia calls for dialogue, opposes solo military action, and enhances border security.

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday declared a state of emergency after what his government described as an "extremely serious military aggression" by the United States targeting the capital, Caracas.

Multiple explosions were heard across the city, accompanied by the sound of aircraft flying overhead, an AFP journalist reported. The exact locations and extent of the damage were not immediately clear.

In a strongly worded statement, the Venezuelan government said it "rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people."

The developments drew swift reactions from neighbouring Colombia, which voiced concern over the escalation. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his government was closely monitoring the situation and warned against actions that could destabilise the region.

"The Government of the Republic of Colombia observes with deep concern the reports of explosions and unusual aerial activity recorded in recent hours in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," the statement said, adding that Bogotá remains committed to the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Colombia explicitly rejected unilateral military action, saying it "rejects any unilateral military action that could aggravate the situation or put the civilian population at risk," and urged all parties to step back from confrontation and prioritise dialogue.

El Gobierno de la República de Colombia observa con profunda preocupación los reportes sobre explosiones y actividad aérea inusual registrados en las últimas horas en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, así como la consecuente escalada de tensión en la región. Colombia…

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 3, 2026

As a precaution, Colombian authorities said measures had been put in place to safeguard civilians and maintain stability along the Colombia-Venezuela border, while preparing to respond to any potential humanitarian or migration-related fallout.

The statement added that Colombia's foreign ministry would keep diplomatic channels open and push for "the objective verification of the facts" in multilateral and regional forums, reiterating that "peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation."

The situation remains fluid, with no immediate response from US officials on the latest developments.