Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2018
The Colombian Naval Corvette Caldas sailed under orders into a disputed zone of the Gulf of Venezuela on 9 August 1987 and began ordering Venezuelan fishing boats and naval craft to leave areas which the Colombian vessel declared were the territorial waters of Colombia. The Venezuelan navy responded by deploying frigates to the scene to reassert Venezuela's claim of territorial jurisdiction over the waters. A protracted naval encounter followed; Venezuelan warships crossed the prow of the Caldas and dispatched Mirage fighter aircraft to overfly it. As the confrontation proceeded, both governments appealed for calm but took steps which to many observers suggested preparations for war.
The author wishes to thank Andelfo Garcia of the Universidad Externado de Colombia for his assistance with this article, and to acknowledge contributions from José Hernán Aguilár, Rosa Bernál, Arturo Galvéz, Carmella García, Beatrice Gutiérrez, Uva Hayos, Nancy Nelson, Enrique Ogliastri, Germán Ramírez, Alfredo Vásquez Carrizosa, as well as a number of others in the international diplomatic and political communities who provided information with the understanding that they would remain anonymous. The stimulus for the research came from a conversation with Martin Needier. Funds were provided by the Fulbright-Hays program.