The Catatumbo region of Colombia, plagued by violence from armed groups like the National Liberation Army (ELN), struggles with poverty despite its oil reserves and coca crops. The ELN, which controls the area and opposes the government’s peace efforts, faces tensions with the U.S. military’s anti-drug operations that have escalated since September. Commander Ricardo of the ELN expresses skepticism about peace prospects, citing historical failures while warning of potential responses to U.S. aggression in the region.
