The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, held a meeting this Saturday at the Miraflores Palace with the president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, in a first attempt at rapprochement aimed at normalizing diplomatic ties between both countries, interrupted since the beginning of last year.
Peña, who traveled with the First Lady and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez, was received by Rodríguez in Caracas, where they held a "meeting of mutual respect" in which they "addressed fundamental issues such as the institutional process of Venezuela, the strengthening of the economy, and the joint fight against transnational organized crime," according to a communication released by the Presidency of Paraguay.
According to the Venezuelan network VTV, both leaders have agreed on a joint statement with the aim of advancing "in the normalization of bilateral relations" between Paraguay and Venezuela. The document was signed by Minister Rubén Ramírez and the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Félix Plasencia.
This trip represents a shift in Paraguay's traditional position, which for years was among the staunchest critics of the Venezuelan government and recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president, a support that was later withdrawn.
In January 2025, Venezuela decided to break diplomatic relations with Paraguay and ordered the expulsion of all Paraguayan diplomatic personnel in its territory, in response to the recognition of Edmundo González as elected president after the presidential elections held in July 2024.