A leading figure in a dissident faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is urging other rebel groups to put aside their differences and unite against what he perceives as increasing U.S. military intervention in the region. Nestor Gregorio Vera, known by his alias Ivan Mordisco, issued the call in response to what he termed an ‘American incursion’ into neighboring Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In a video statement, Vera, clad in camouflage and flanked by armed fighters, warned that ‘the specter of military intervention looms over everyone without exception.’ He implored armed groups to set aside their disputes during this critical juncture.
Uniting Against Imperialist Aggression
Vera directly appealed to the National Liberation Army (ELN), the ‘Second Marquetalia’ movement, and the Bolivarian Army Guerrilla Coordination – all offshoots of FARC – stating that ‘destiny calls us to unite.’ He emphasized that these factions ‘are not separate forces, but heirs to a single cause.’
He advocated for the formation of a ‘grand rebel bloc’ capable of confronting what he described as ‘the greatest enemies of the homeland.’ Vera also called on leaders of rebel groups in Colombia and Latin America to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the ‘common American threat,’ demanding the creation of a unified front to counter ‘all forms of imperialist aggression.’
Notably, Vera’s call did not extend to the Central General Staff (EMC), the second-largest FARC dissident group, which officially separated from his faction in 2024 following internal disagreements.
These developments come as U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, is scheduled to visit Washington in February. Trump’s announcement followed days of threats to take military action against Colombia, repeatedly accusing the Petro government of condoning the continued flow of cocaine into the United States. He previously imposed sanctions on the Colombian president last October.
