New Colombian ambassador travels to Venezuela in a further step towards normalization of relations

Colombia’s new ambassador to Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, announced Sunday that he is on his way to the country where he will serve as diplomatic envoy in a new development between the two countries’ relations after announcing the reestablishment of contacts at the end of July.

Relations between Bogota and Caracas were strained throughout the term of office of former Colombian President Ivan Duque, both because of the accusation of harboring criminals, as well as the lack of recognition of Nicolas Maduro as Venezuelan president while the opposition Juan Guaidó has been supported as “president in charge”.

However, after winning the presidential elections in May, Gustavo Petro announced contacts with the Venezuelan government to, among other issues, address the need for the reopening of the borders between the two countries and the restoration of the “full exercise of Human Rights”, after Duque broke diplomatic relations in February 2019.

“We are heading to Venezuela at this hour with the mission of working to rebuild ties with our neighbor and repair the damage generated in the hearts of our peoples as a result of a rupture of relations that should never have happened,” Benedetti announced on his Twitter account.

For his part, Maduro has appointed the former Venezuelan ambassador to China, Felix Plasencia, as the new head of the Embassy in Colombia.