Colombia, Venezuela Hold First High-Level Talks Since Maduro’s Ouster

Top Colombian officials met with Venezuelan counterparts in Caracas Friday to discuss border security, energy cooperation and trade. This marks the first face-to-face diplomatic meeting between the neighboring countries since former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was removed from power in January.

Senior government officials from Colombia traveled to Caracas Friday for high-stakes discussions with Venezuelan leaders about energy partnerships, border security and commercial relations, marking a new chapter in diplomatic ties between the South American neighbors.

The meeting represents the first face-to-face diplomatic engagement since Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was removed from office in early January, signaling a potential reset in bilateral relations.

Plans for a presidential summit between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez were scrapped due to what both governments described as “force majeure,” though no additional details were provided about the cancellation.

Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez sat down with Venezuelan counterpart Vladimir Padrino to develop coordinated security approaches for their shared 1,370-mile border. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministers Rosa Villavicencio of Colombia and Venezuela’s Yvan Gil worked on initiatives to “prioritize brotherhood and peaceful coexistence,” according to a statement from Rodriguez’s administration.

Commercial representatives explored opportunities in trade and tourism sectors, while energy officials including Colombian Energy Minister Edwin Palma focused on a recently announced collaboration between state petroleum companies Ecopetrol and PDVSA. The partnership aims to restore a damaged portion of a cross-border pipeline that would enable Colombia to receive natural gas imports from Venezuela.

Rodriguez, who previously served as vice president, has been working to draw investment in oil and mining sectors as she works to bring stability to the nation following Maduro’s detention by U.S. authorities. President Donald Trump has offered praise for her leadership, and she has opened doors to American officials and business interests in Caracas. The United States and Venezuela have also officially restored diplomatic relations.

While Petro maintained friendly relations with the former Maduro government, he has experienced tensions with Trump, though both leaders reported positive outcomes from a Washington meeting last month and held a constructive phone conversation Thursday focused on economic conditions along the Venezuela-Colombia border, Petro’s office reported.

Trump has consistently called for enhanced Colombian cooperation in anti-narcotics efforts. Petro points to unprecedented drug seizure numbers during his administration as evidence of progress.

The two nations share deep historical and cultural connections, particularly in border regions where many families hold citizenship in both countries. Approximately 3 million Venezuelan refugees have relocated to Colombia in recent years, escaping economic devastation in their homeland.

Colombian trade statistics show the country maintained a $973.4 million trade surplus with Venezuela in 2025, shipping products including food items, tobacco, chemicals, plastics and machinery. Venezuelan exports to Colombia totaled $98.3 million, consisting primarily of iron, steel, fertilizer and paper products.

The Venezuelan state petroleum company PDVSA will handle restoration work on the Antonio Ricaurte gas pipeline, which has remained out of service for several years, Colombia’s energy ministry announced Thursday.

The 140-mile pipeline system can transport up to 500 million cubic feet of natural gas daily when operational.