Venezuela’s Rodriguez, Colombia’s Petro say they will meet ‘soon’ | Government News
Venezuela and Colombia to Hold Bilateral Meeting on Security and Economic Issues
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced Wednesday that she and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have agreed to convene for a bilateral meeting focused on security, economic, and energy matters.
Rodriguez emphasized the importance of fostering a cooperative relationship that benefits both countries. “We continue to promote a relationship of understanding and shared benefits for the wellbeing of our peoples,” she stated in an Instagram post.
In a speech delivered in La Guajira, Colombia’s northern border region, Petro confirmed that he had invited Rodriguez to meet in the border city of Cucuta. While he noted the focus of discussions would include energy cooperation and infrastructure projects, details regarding the timing of the meeting remain unconfirmed.
Colombia and Venezuela share a border spanning more than 2,200 kilometers (1,370 miles), a factor that has influenced their often fragile relationship. Ties between the two nations have become increasingly complex, particularly in light of the influx of nearly three million Venezuelan migrants and refugees into Colombia.
Rodriguez’s announcement comes amid internal changes within Venezuela as the country adjusts to a new government following the removal of former leader Nicolás Maduro. Reports indicate that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were abducted by U.S. forces on January 3 and transported to New York. In the weeks following this event, the Venezuelan Supreme Court named Rodriguez as the acting president. She was formally sworn in on January 5 with support from Venezuela’s military, the ruling party, and the United States.
However, her legitimacy has faced scrutiny, especially from international organizations and opposition figures, given her lack of an elected mandate. Critics point to her close ties with the Maduro administration, which has been accused of widespread human rights abuses. Rodriguez previously served as Maduro’s vice president.
Despite this, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for Rodriguez, suggesting that his endorsement is contingent on her responsiveness to U.S. requests. Under her leadership, Venezuela has enacted reforms, including a new law permitting foreign investment in its nationalized oil sector.
In parallel, the U.S. has started easing some sanctions to facilitate oil production under Rodriguez’s administration.
This leadership shift has rekindled international diplomacy for Venezuela, which has been largely isolated by U.S. sanctions. On Wednesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, visited Venezuela. Additionally, high-ranking U.S. military officials arrived in the country for an unannounced visit, marking one of the first significant Pentagon delegations to Venezuela since Maduro’s ousting.
Last week, Rodriguez met with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the first member of Trump’s cabinet to visit Venezuela. In an indication of growing diplomatic ties, Trump has hinted at the possibility of a future visit to Venezuela, which would mark the first time a sitting U.S. president has traveled to Caracas in nearly 30 years.
Petro, who assumed office in 2022, has sought to improve relations with Venezuela, restore diplomatic ties, and reopen the shared border after periods of tension. Despite efforts to mend relations, their partnership faced challenges due to concerns over Venezuela’s recent contested elections, which Petro publicly criticized as lacking transparency.
In response to Maduro’s claimed victory in a third-term election, Petro announced that Colombia would not recognize the legitimacy of the results and ultimately boycotted Maduro’s 2025 inauguration.
