Venezuela asserts exclusive right to lead earthquake reconstruction

The Venezuelan government has firmly rejected Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's claim that Colombia should lead reconstruction efforts after the devastating double earthquake on June 24, which left 4,118 dead and damaged nearly a thousand buildings Source: CNN. In a statement issued on July 11, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that planning and executing the recovery is its "exclusive" responsibility and that it has already mobilized public companies and private sector actors Source: Infobae.

The dispute

De la Espriella had declared in a public event that "the reconstruction of Venezuela after the earthquake must be done by Colombia, with all that it implies" and that he would raise the matter with the United States Source: Hoydo. Caracas reacted "with surprise," accusing him of "pretending to assume broad powers" over recovery efforts, and stressed that "the Venezuelan State has exclusive authority" over the process Source: CNN. The statement explicitly noted that no coordination with the Colombian government is currently planned Source: Infobae.

International cooperation

While rejecting Colombian involvement, Venezuela has opened talks with the United States for a new line of cooperation and has received support from Brazil Source: Hoydo. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has called for "aggressive and rapid" housing construction and is identifying land for new "anti-seismic cities." A $200 million international donation fund has been established Source: Infobae. Rodríguez also said that if necessary, Venezuela will form alliances with foreign companies .