For neighboring Colombia, which Chávez has long portrayed as a proxy for a meddling U.S. government, the change has been particularly pronounced. Relations with Bogotá were icy as ever when President Juan Manuel Santos took office this summer—two year earlier, Chávez had even ordered tanks to the 1,375-mile border, which was closed in 2009, and Colombia openly accused him of aiding and abetting its leftist guerillas, who take refuge on Venezuelan turf. Chávez has since worked to embrace his new counterpart, meeting personally with Santos, deporting guerillas, reopening the border and agreeing to repay Venezuela’s $800 million debt to Colombian business.