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An end to the three-year ‘interval’; Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic relations
Bogota: South American countries Venezuela and Colombia have restored diplomatic relations between the two countries after a gap of three years.
On Sunday, new Colombian ambassador Armando Benedetti arrived in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Benedetti was received by Venezuela’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Rander Pena Ramirez.
“Our relationship with Venezuela should never have deteriorated. We are brothers.
“No imaginary line can separate us,” Armando Benedetti wrote on Twitter.
“Historical ties invite us to work together for the happiness of the people of both countries,” tweeted Rander Pena Ramirez.
The Embassador @AABenedetti arrived in Caracas ???????? and was received by the Vice Minister of America of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, @RanderPena pic.twitter.com/z2TSHNYS9k
– Colombian Foreign Ministry (@CancilleriaCol) August 28, 2022
With the restoration of ties, the more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi) border between the two countries will be fully opened. Since 2015, it has been closed to vehicles.
Reportedly, military relations between the two countries will also be restored.
Colombia’s new left-wing president Gustavo Petro and Venezuela’s socialist president Nicolas Maduro announced on August 11 that they would restore diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Colombia.
The Colombian ambassador came to Venezuela as part of this.
Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Colombia were severed in early 2019.
Relations soured after Venezuelan opposition members tried to cross Colombian territory with trucks loaded with food and medicine. After that, Venezuela severed relations with Colombia.
Colombia also closed its borders. The aid, filled with food and medicine, was allegedly intended to cover up a coup attempt by the Venezuelan opposition, backed by the United States.
Later, the embassies and consulates of both countries were closed and flight services were suspended.
The then Colombian President Ivan Duque did not approve of Nicolas Maduro’s re-election in 2019. Duke also supported opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to be Venezuela’s interim president.
But at the beginning of August, after Gustavo Petro took office as the president of Colombia, the signs of thawing between the two countries began to be seen.
Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, said he would accept Maduro and work with the Venezuelan government.
Content Highlight: Colombia and Venezuela restore full diplomatic relations after three years