Peru and Venezuela restore diplomatic ties

LIMA: Peru and Venezuela will resume diplomatic relations after severing ties over now ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s disputed election win in 2024, both foreign ministries announced Friday.

Caracas had cut bilateral relations in July of that year after Lima recognized Venezuela’s opposition leader as the election winner, and not then-incumbent Maduro as electoral authorities had concluded.

In January of this year, however, US forces abducted Maduro, who has since been replaced by interim leader and Washington ally Delcy Rodriguez.

Peru and Venezuela’s diplomatic relations were set to gradually resume, both foreign ministries announced Friday.

“The Government of the Republic of Peru and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are pleased to announce that they have decided to begin a gradual process for the full resumption of bilateral relations,” a joint statement read.

The announcement comes days before Peru’s conservative president-elect Keiko Fujimori takes office on July 28.