The declaration of an economic, social, and environmental state of emergency that the national government is preparing in response to the situation in Venezuela has opened a new chapter in Colombian public policy and border management. This Saturday, January 3, the Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, announced that the administration of President Gustavo Petro plans to adopt this legal measure to address the effects of recent developments in the neighboring country, especially following the United States military intervention that culminated in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and the escalation of tensions in the region.
This possible declaration is not focused solely on economic issues, but rather seeks to articulate a comprehensive response that addresses the social and environmental consequences that could arise from a humanitarian situation of major proportions in the border area.
From Bogotá to the border with Venezuela, the announcement has generated expectations and questions about the State’s capacity to respond effectively to a scenario that combines migratory pressure, unmet basic needs, and environmental challenges. In his remarks, Benedetti explained that the measure will make it possible to enable new actions for protection, prevention, and humanitarian assistance aimed at both Colombian nationals and Venezuelan migrants, as well as people of other nationalities who may cross into Colombian territory in the coming weeks.
To coordinate these actions, a Unified Command Post (PMU) will be set up in the city of Cúcuta, the epicenter of many of the migratory flows and the logistical efforts that are planned to be deployed.
Colombia declares economic, social, and environmental state of emergency over Venezuela situation
The government’s initiative is presented as a preventive response to a potential comprehensive crisis at the border, combining economic, social, and environmental factors. The threat of a massive exodus of people from Venezuela to Colombia, with families seeking protection, basic services, and new opportunities, has placed the country’s northeastern border in a situation of high vulnerability.
If formalized, the emergency decree would provide the Executive with exceptional legal and budgetary tools to act more quickly and flexibly in sectors such as health care, education, child services, and food security.
“The Ministry of the Interior will lead a Unified Command Post (PMU) in the city of Cúcuta, with the objective of adopting and advancing a decree declaring a state of economic, social, and environmental emergency, in response to the situation at the border,” Armando Benedetti said on the social network.
“Within the framework of this PMU, measures for protection, prevention, and humanitarian assistance aimed at both Colombian nationals and Venezuelan migrants and people of other nationalities entering the country will be defined and coordinated,” Benedetti specified on the platform.
El Ministerio del Interior liderará un Puesto de Mando Unificado (PMU) en la ciudad de Cúcuta, con el propósito de adoptar y proyectar un decreto de declaratoria de estado de emergencia económica, social y ecológica, en respuesta a la situación en la frontera.
En el marco de…
— Armando Benedetti (@AABenedetti) January 3, 2026
The context of this announcement is a tense geopolitical landscape with multiple variables at play. Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces has generated uncertainty in markets and population movements, while regional leaders and international organizations closely monitor how events unfold.
In Colombia, the Petro administration has chosen to get ahead of the potential spillover effects of this development, seeking to prevent a lack of preparedness from further aggravating an already delicate situation in several border communities. With the PMU in Cúcuta, the aim is to centralize decision-making and interagency coordination so that responses are swift and effective.
Scope and tools of a comprehensive emergency
The emergency proposed by the government is not limited solely to the fiscal or administrative sphere. According to official announcements, the strategy would include the establishment of temporary shelters, reinforcements to public health services, and joint actions with entities such as the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) to protect children and adolescents.
The need to strengthen controls at border crossings has also been mentioned in order to ensure adequate security conditions, both for those entering the country and for host communities.
Beyond the immediate assistance to people affected by the Venezuelan crisis, the ecological emergency would entail assessing and mitigating environmental impacts that may arise from pressure on natural resources in highly fragile areas, such as rivers, forests, and agricultural land near the border.
Although these aspects have been less visible in initial public statements, they constitute an essential component of a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the multiple dimensions of a cross-border crisis.