Visit of Colombian President Petro to Caracas marks return of Venezuela to diplomatic game

Gustavo Petro was received with great fanfare on Tuesday by his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro. The meeting, a first in six years, follows the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, broken in 2019.

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Red carpet, presidential guard and even Christmas trees: Colombian President Gustavo Petro was received with great fanfare at the Miraflore palace, in Caracas, Tuesday 1 er November, by his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro. It was the first time, for six years, that a Colombian head of state has been traveling to Venezuela. And it has been eleven years since none of his predecessors had been received at the presidential palace. This Tuesday meeting follows the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, broken in 2019, and the official reopening of their border in September. She marks – the day after Ignacio’s victory “Lula” da Silva in Brazil – the return of Venezuela in the Latin American diplomatic game.

Between Colombia, a historic ally of the United States, and Venezuela “Bolivarian”, relationships have never been easy. The coming to power in August by Gustavo Petro changed the situation. The first left -wing president of the history of Colombia does not dispute the legitimacy of Mr. Maduro, while his predecessor, Ivan Duque, had aligned himself with the Americans who, in 2019, tried to bring the opponent to the opponent Juan Guaido, self -proclaimed “acting president” from Venezuela. Without success.

Criticized on both sides of the border by the right -wing opposition, the summit meeting lasted three hours. MM. Petro and Maduro have spoken consular relationships, trade, migrants, safety, energy and environment. “After six years of political emptiness, there is no shortage of subjects,” said the Colombian president when going on the military plane that was going to lead him to Caracas. The direct flights between the two capitals, one hour from a half distance from one of the other, have still not been restored. At the end of their meeting, the two leaders stressed the importance of ” Historical links “between their two countries – which share a border of 2,200 kilometers – and the” common destiny “which unites them.

human rights violations

Gustavo Petro was expected on the subject of human rights. After recalling his commitment to the “democratic construction of the American continent”, the Colombian head of state publicly asked his Venezuelan counterpart to reintegrate the Inter -American Human Rights system. Nicolas Maduro said he was “very receptive” to the “interesting question mentioned by President Petro”. But he did not give more precision on his future intentions.

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