Colombia Begins Mass Mobilization Against Terror Group As Moscow Warns Of New “Anti-Russia Provocation In Latin America”

Trump-backed Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has wasted no time combating Marxist terrorist groups in a country that is part of the US-led “Shield of the Americas,” an initiative aimed at eliminating transnational drug cartels and preventing weaponized migration flows toward the US. 

De la Espriella recently announced joint US military operations targeting the far-left terror networks, as footage posted on Instagram by local media outlet Primicia Caribe shows what appears to be a mobilization of Colombian troops.

| ATENCIÓN COLOMBIA. El Escudo de las Américas, rumbo al #Catatumbo, con el objetivo claro de combatir a las guerrillas y recuperar el territorio. pic.twitter.com/E9JCiyvsf0

— Liliana Franco (@lilianaf523) August 17, 2026

In recent days, Colombia’s far-left ELN guerrilla group threatened de la Espriella’s new government over military operations targeting rebel-held territory. 

#Colombia La comandante del Ejército de Liberación Nacional ELN, Silvana Guerrero, lanzó amenazas al gobierno de De la Espreilla, sobre incursiones dle ejército en zonas controladas por el grupo. Armada con una carabina de patrón M4 y sus guardias están armados con fusil Type… pic.twitter.com/mCcWTpp3pF

— Klaveec (@klaveec) August 16, 2026

Silvana Guerrero, identified as the leader and commander of the self-proclaimed Northeastern War Front of the ELN, warned that the group would resist efforts to restore state control, as armed fighters displayed military-style assault rifles. It appears that de la Espriella’s government is preparing for a fight against the ELN, with a retaking of territory near the Ecuadorian border. 

On Sunday, de la Espriella wrote on X about an attack against troops and warned that the “narcoterrorists of the ELN” would pay dearly. He said, “The order to the public forces is clear: without truce and with resolve, we must put an end to that cancer.”

Este ataque contra nuestros héroes le saldrá caro a los narcoterroristas del ELN .

La orden a la fuerza pública es clara: sin tregua y con contundencia, hay que acabar con ese cancer.

Mi solidaridad con las víctimas y sus familias.

¡Firme por la Patria!

(A.D.L.E) https://t.co/nN7X2rLzg4

— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) August 16, 2026

Under former socialist Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” policy, ELN was allowed to consolidate power, expand its territorial control, and use negotiated ceasefires to recruit fighters and further its drug trafficking operations.

By Monday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation chimed in on X. It claimed a Western intelligence service, working through Ukrainian proxies, is preparing an information operation targeting Russia in Latin America:

A Western intelligence service, working with Ukrainian proxies, is preparing a new anti-Russian provocation in Latin America. The plan: accuse Russia of supplying weapons to criminal groups in Venezuela, Colombia & Mexico.

Russia’s #SVR:

A Western intelligence service, working with Ukrainian proxies, is preparing a new anti-Russian provocation in Latin America.

The plan: accuse Russia of supplying weapons to criminal groups in Venezuela, Colombia & Mexico.https://t.co/wHk2BnHhgE pic.twitter.com/ch9Oeoh3Qk

— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) August 17, 2026

Russian state media Sputnik cited Russian intelligence that said, “The West is plotting a provocation to frame Russia for arming Latin American cartels.” 

More from Sputnik:

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has warned that the West is preparing a provocation to accuse Russia of “illegal arms supplies” to drug cartels and criminal groups in Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico. 

• To do that, Russian-made weapons captured during the special military operation are being smuggled into Latin American countries 
• Fake audio and video recordings are being prepared to “confirm” the alleged transfers 
• The goal is to undermine Russia’s constructive ties with the region and pressure Latin American governments into adopting an anti-Russian stance

West plotting provocation to frame Russia for arming Latin American cartels – Russian Intel

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has warned that the West is preparing a provocation to accuse Russia of “illegal arms supplies” to drug cartels and criminal groups in… pic.twitter.com/smSBTHbXFt

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) August 17, 2026

To sum up, the developments suggest Colombia’s renewed campaign against the ELN could become entangled in the wider Russia-versus-the-West conflict. Bogotá’s alignment with the Trump administration and its push to reclaim guerrilla-held territory create what may be only a new information war of competing narratives about who is supplying the ELN.  

Russia’s claims remain unverified. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Colombia as the government prepares to confront cartels and insurgencies.