Venezuela masses 150,000 troops, tanks and aircraft on Colombian border as Maduro says 'the time has come to defend our sovereignty' and the US offers its 'full support' to Bogota

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Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro announced the start of military exercises on his country's border with Colombia to 'defend our sovereignty'.

Bolivarian National Armed Forces chiefs said yesterday they had begun mobilising 150,000 troops on the border amid renewed tensions between Bogota and Caracas.

President Maduro ordered his army to deploy along the 1,400-mile (2,200-kilometre) border after accusing Colombia of plotting to spark a military conflict.

Tanks, missile carriers, aircraft and dozens of troops deployed around Garcia de Hevia International Airport in western Tachira state on Tuesday. A military band played as the vehicles filed out. 

Maduro wrote on Twitter yesterday: 'The moment has come to defend our sovereignty and national peace by deploying our defence resources in full force.' 

The amassing of troops at the border drew US attention amid the rising friction between the South American neighbours and forced Washington to offer its support to Colombia. 

Soldiers take part in a military exercise at the Garcia Hevia airport in La Fria in the State of Tachira, Venezuela on Tuesday

Members of the Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela take part in the beginning of military exercises on the Colombian border, from the Francisco Garcia de Hevia National Airport yesterday

Nicolas Maduro speaking during a government meeting in Caracas on Monday in which he discussed with officials  ways to 'establish lines of action that protect national sovereignty'

Opposition leader Juan Guaido accused President Maduro of generating tension with Colombia to 'distract attention' from the need to abandon power and to resolve the 'humanitarian emergency' in Venezuela.

Admiral Remigio Ceballos, chief of Venezuela's Strategic Command, told troops on the airport runway that they were part of a 'peacekeeping force' - but one that would not shirk combat if necessary.

'We respect the armed forces around the world, but we are not afraid of anyone,' Ceballos said.

Maduro accused Colombia last week of using the rejection by dissident FARC leaders of a peace accord to try to provoke a military conflict and said he was placing his forces on high alert.

Colombia's right-wing President Ivan Duque had accused Maduro of sheltering FARC dissidents on his territory.

On Tuesday, Vice-President Marta Lucia Ramirez called on Colombians to remain 'calm' and said Bogota would not respond to 'provocations.'

However, she said the military was prepared for 'any external attacks.'

The strategic operational commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Ceofanb), Remigio Ceballos (centre), together with members of the Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela, take part in the start of military exercises on the border with Colombia

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the deployment of troops on the border of Venezuela with Colombia and the launch of a missile system after declaring an alert on that entire area a day before

Tanks, missile launchers and aircraft gathered at the Venezuelan border with Colombia 

'We call on all Colombians for calm, knowing that we possess a sufficiently equipped and capable public force,' said Ramirez.

'We must not react to this threat, because it would be foolish to think it could be real.' 

Maduro has come under mounting pressure from Colombia and the United States, which are among more than 50 nations that back opposition politician Juan Guaido's bid to oust the socialist president. They contend Maduro's re-election in 2018 was fraudulent.

Tensions spiked recently when Colombia and Venezuela accused each other of harbouring hostile armed groups within their borders that are trying to overthrow the neighbouring government. 

In response, Maduro put soldiers on alert and summoned his defence council, saying the machinery of war has started against Venezuela.

Roughly 150,000 military personnel will conduct drills through September 28, said Remigio Ceballos, strategic commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, who is overseeing operations.

President Maduro launched extended military exercises along the border with Colombia, drawing Washington's attention amid rising friction between the South American neighbours 

The Venezuelan National Assembly during a session in Caracas yesterday where opposition leader Juan Guaido accused Maduro of generating tension with Colombia to 'distract attention' from the 'humanitarian emergency' in Venezuela

'This is an operation to defend our national territory,' said Ceballos, adding that the armed forces are on the watch to intercept attacks from Colombia, the US or any other threat.

Officials in Washington on Tuesday expressed unwavering support for Colombia during this patch of rocky relations with Venezuela. The two countries have a shared history and their border stretches nearly 1,367 miles.

Carlos Trujillo, the US ambassador to the Organization of American States, said it was 'totally unacceptable' that Maduro's 'illegitimate government' has threatened the region's security and peace.

'Colombia's allies will do everything possible to help one of the best allies we've had - not only in the Americas but in the world,' Trujillo added during a conference call with reporters.

The US special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, was even more direct.

'If there are cross-border attacks from Venezuela to Colombia, we can expect Colombians to react,' Abrams said. 'And obviously, we would fully support Colombia in that situation.'

Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president in January. He is pictured (above) at a session of the National Assembly in Caracas yesterday 

A truck carrying a missile participates in a military exercise at the Garcia Hevia airport in La Fria in the State of Tachira, Venezuela on Tuesday

Colombian authorities estimate as many as 1,000 National Liberation Army rebels - or around 40 per cent of that rebel group's fighting force - operate from Venezuela. The rebels there plan attacks like the January car bombing at a Bogota police academy that killed more than 20 mostly young cadets, Colombia says.

For its part, Venezuela's socialist government accuses Colombia's conservative president, Ivan Duque, of allowing training camps to operate inside Colombia for groups that plot violent attacks to undermine Maduro.

This is at least the fourth time so far this year that Maduro has ordered his troops deployed in exercises. 

In one, Maduro was shown on state TV acting as commander in chief, riding in tanks and jogging in formation with soldiers.

This display was seen as Maduro flexing his military muscle in response to Guaidó, who urged soldiers to abandon Maduro and join the opposition's movement to start fresh with new presidential elections.

Maduro has maintained support from the military, with the exception of several hundred troops. He's also backed internationally by allies such as Cuba, China and Russia.

Colombia's Duque has said Venezuela should spend its money on food, not missiles.