Venezuela and Israel Resume Consular Ties Amid Regional Thaw

Venezuela and Israel have agreed to restore consular relations, a significant step in bilateral ties between the two countries. The announcement was made Tuesday, as interim President Delcy Rodriguez pursues a policy of recalibrating foreign relations following the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in January.

Previously, Venezuela had cut diplomatic ties with Israel 17 years ago, following Israeli attacks on Gaza. Under Maduro, Caracas maintained a hardline stance against Israel and a close alliance with Iran, Israel’s regional rival.

In a statement on social media platform X, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia Gonzalez said the decision to restore consular relations came after Israel sent a team to Venezuela to assist in the aftermath of the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the South American nation.

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the State of Israel announce that they have agreed to continue the bilateral technical cooperation arising from the emergency response and recovery efforts following the twin earthquakes, as well as to establish coordination mechanisms to provide consular services to citizens of each country residing in the other,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Spanish-language account of the Israeli government on X said the change reflects that “both governments are aware of the importance of the bond between the State of Israel and the Jewish community living in Venezuela, which has been an important historical bridge of friendship between the two countries.”

Consular relations typically allow for the provision of common services to citizens and tourists. The restoration of consular ties could signal warming bilateral relations, even if full diplomatic relations are not yet reinstated.

Since Maduro’s capture, Rodriguez has adopted a stance closer to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. This move toward a close U.S. ally coincides with Caracas distancing itself from longtime ally Cuba. In July, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the court of bias against countries in the Global South. This aligns with the Trump administration’s confrontational posture toward the court, which Washington has vowed to “neutralize.”

In this context, Israel has seen its relations with several Latin American countries become deeply strained during the war in Gaza, but recent electoral victories by right-wing candidates have boosted efforts to reestablish ties across the region.

Last week, Chile and Honduras resumed appointing ambassadors to Israel after both countries withdrew their envoys amid the Gaza war. Argentine President Javier Milei also announced last year that his country would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

This move mirrors President Trump’s decision to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, a city long considered the future capital of a Palestinian state.

Additionally, Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office last week, recognized Israel’s sovereignty claim over the occupied Golan Heights. The United Nations regards the territory as part of Syria. This marks a significant shift from his predecessor, leftist President Gustavo Petro, one of the region’s leading critics of Israel.