Colombia, Venezuela Restore Full Diplomatic Relations

Colombia and Venezuela have restored full diplomatic relations after a three-year break.

A new Colombian ambassador, Armando Benedetti, arrived in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on Sunday.

Benedetti said; “Relations with Venezuela should never have been severed.

"We are brothers and an imaginary line cannot separate us."

Benedetti was welcomed by Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rander Pena Ramirez, who also said; "Our historical ties summon us to work together for the happiness of our peoples."

Colombia’s new left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, and Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro announced on August 11 that they planned to restore diplomatic relations, which were severed in 2019.

Both countries had broken off ties early in 2019 after members of the Venezuelan opposition tried to cross from Colombian territory with trucks loaded with food and medicine.

Colombia also closed the border, saying the aid masked an attempted coup by the opposition with support from the United States.

Embassies and consulates in both countries were shut down, and flights between the neighbors were grounded.

Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, has now said he will work with the Venezuelan government on several issues, including fighting rebel groups along the porous border between the countries.