World
Peña travels to Venezuela to begin a dialogue on bilateral relations
The Paraguayan government said the visit to Caracas will be a first approach with a view to a possible diplomatic or consular rapprochement. Afterwards, the delegation will continue on to the United States for economic activities and the UN General Assembly.
The president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, will travel to Venezuela with the aim of opening a dialogue on the relationship between the two countries, according to ABC Color based on statements by Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and executive adviser Rodrigo Maluff.
According to the foreign minister, a meeting with Delcy Rodríguez is scheduled. Ramírez Lezcano explained that the meeting will seek to advance issues related to the well-being of Venezuelan citizens and a process that could lead to the reestablishment of diplomatic or consular relations, according to the terms defined by the Paraguayan president.
The foreign minister clarified that this trip will not result in an immediate normalization of the bilateral relationship. In that sense, he said it is a first approach and a constructive dialogue, so for now reopening a Paraguayan embassy is not planned.
According to ABC Color, after the stop in Venezuela the official delegation will travel to New York, where Peña will take part in economic activities and is scheduled to deliver a speech before the UN General Assembly.
On the debt of Petróleos Paraguayos to Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., Ramírez Lezcano said the matter remains within the International Trade Committee in Paris. He also said there is a technical difference regarding the amount claimed by Nicolás Maduro’s government. ABC Color reported that Paraguay’s debt is around US$ 300 million.
The official also reiterated, according to that outlet, that designated ambassador Enrique Jara is carrying out his duties from Panama and is keeping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed about the situation. He added that the government does not rule out buying fuel from Venezuela again, although he stressed that possibility still has to be discussed.
ABC Color recalled that Venezuela broke off relations with Paraguay in January 2025, after Peña recognized González Urrutia as the winner of the presidential election. Later, the Paraguayan government repealed the decree that allowed Venezuelan citizens to enter without a visa, a measure it justified on security grounds. The Foreign Ministry also ordered that any eventual entry of Venezuelans be subject to prior verification of documents and criminal records as part of the visa process.
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Sobre esta nota. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
