2008 Andean diplomatic crisis

2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
Date March 1 – March 7, 2008 (6 days) Location Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela Result Diplomatic solution
Belligerents
Colombia Supported by:  United States	Ecuador  Venezuela Supported by:  Cuba  Nicaragua
Commanders and leaders
Álvaro Uribe	Rafael Correa Hugo Chávez

The 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic stand-off involving the South American countries of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. It began with an incursion into Ecuadorian territory across the Putumayo River by the Colombian military on March 1, 2008, leading to the deaths of over twenty militants, including Raúl Reyes (nom-de-guerre of Luis Edgar Devia Silva) and sixteen other members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). This incursion led to increased tension between Colombia and Ecuador and the movement of Venezuelan and Ecuadorian troops to their borders with Colombia.

A military and diplomatic row intensified, ambassadors were recalled and arrests made worldwide following the seizure by the Colombians from the FARC camp of laptop computers that the Colombian military found to contain a large quantity of letters and documents pertaining to FARC activities and its relationship with the Ecuadorian and Venezuelan governments.^[1]

The immediate crisis was ended at a Rio Group summit on March 7, 2008, with a public reconciliation of the three countries involved.^[2]