Venezuela and Colombia agree to re-establish diplomatic ties

Countries will name new ambassadors when Colombia’s President-elect Gustavo Petro takes office next month, officials say.

Colombia and Venezuela will appoint new ambassadors in their respective capitals when Colombian President-elect Gustavo Petro takes office next month, authorities said, in an effort to rebuild diplomatic relations after years of tension.

The decision was announced in a joint declaration on Thursday by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria and Colombian Foreign Minister-in-waiting Alvaro Leyva after a meeting in the border city of San Cristobal.

Leyva read out a statement saying that both men had “expressed their desire to progress on a work agenda towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations from August 7 by naming ambassadors and diplomatic and consular officials”.

They also reaffirmed “their willingness to make joint efforts to guarantee security and peace on the border of our two countries”, he added.

Agencies