Millions of Venezuelans in Colombia are watching the U.S. military's escalation around Venezuela with a mix of worry and hope.

Bogotá

Venezuelan migrants in Colombia are experiencing both hope and anxiety as the United States increases its military presence near Venezuela, officially to combat drug trafficking. While many Venezuelans abroad support change in their home country and criticize President Nicolás Maduro, they also fear that military intervention could lead to significant bloodshed and suffering for civilians.

Organizations supporting Venezuelan migrants in Bogotá report increased threats and attacks against activists, reflecting the tense atmosphere. Despite the desire for a new beginning and a return to rule of law in Venezuela, exiles remain concerned about the risks posed by armed groups and the potential consequences of international intervention.

Venezuelans in Colombia torn amid U.S. military escalation

Jeanette Liconte fled Caracas for Bogotá eight years ago. Her salary as a registered nurse wasn't enough to buy the scarce medicines or decent food for her sick mother. Starting over in a new land was hard, but today she enjoys her work in an organic shop. Yet like many Venezuelans abroad, she dreams of change back home. But the growing US military build-up in the Caribbean and President Donald Trump's talk of possible land operations have her uneasy. It worries me a lot because if an invasion were to happen, my country would be filled with blood, whether we want it or not. In the end, it's always us, the people, the poor, who suffer the most. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has deployed a formidable US force near Venezuela's coast, saying it's to combat drug trafficking. It has struck boats it says were running drugs, killing dozens. But many believe Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his government are the real targets. At the Juntos Se Puede foundation in Bogotá, migrants come for help with their legal status, find work or assist malnourished and sick children. Many here say Maduro deserves whatever is coming. Honestly, all of us who left the country want change. There's a reason we are not there. We do want change and we pray to God that it happens. For Venezuelans rebuilding their life here in Colombia, this is a moment of both hope and fear. And for some, this goes beyond the conflict back home, but also the possibility of being targeted here. The foundation's president says two activists were threatened and attacked in Bogotá this month. What we're seeing now is a moment of desperation for the regime. They feel cornered by the international community and I believe they're weaker than ever. Venezuelans have given everything, blood, tears, forced displacement, protests in the streets, every civic effort possible, and they still remain in power. All we want now is to recover our country's sovereignty, to build a rule of law that respects human rights. And we hope the end of Nicolás Maduro and his transnational criminal network is near. But with militias, drug gangs and Colombian rebels entrenched in Venezuela, any change could come at a price. For now, millions in exile weigh the hope of a new beginning against the risk of bloodshed. Alessandro Rampietti, Al Jazeera, Bogotá.

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