Colombia and Venezuela re-establish diplomatic relations

Colombia and Venezuela re-established diplomatic relations on Monday (29), in a crucial shift in South American regional policy.

Colombian Ambassador Armando Benedetti met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.

“At this time I am received by President Nicolás Maduro, to whom I present diplomatic documents as Colombia’s ambassador to Venezuela. We talk about the urgency of rekindling bonds of friendship that should never have been broken,” Benedetti said on Twitter, posting several photos of himself with Maduro.

Venezuela’s ambassador to Colombia, Felix Plasencia, is expected to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in the coming days.

The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 2019, when then-President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state.

However, Colombia and Venezuela were part of the same country in the 19th century and share deep historical and cultural ties.

Reviving the relationship with Venezuela was a campaign promise by petro, who took over the Colombian government on August 7. He is the country’s first left-wing president.

Petro also sought to establish international ties with new progressives such as the US Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Venezuela is one of the most outspoken enemies of US policy in the Western Hemisphere. Meanwhile, Colombia is a close ally of Washington, and US troops regularly conduct joint operations with their Colombian counterparts.