Venezuela’s international relations have entered a period of turbulence, worsened after the presidential elections of July 28, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner amid allegations of fraud.
The opposition, led by Edmundo González Urrutia, has claimed victory, relying on 85% of the electoral records that they claim to have in their possession. Given the lack of publication of official disaggregated results by the National Electoral Council, CNE, Tensions have not only deepened internally, but have also had repercussions in the diplomatic sphere.
The deterioration in Venezuela’s relations with other nations was clearly evident in 2024, with several Latin American countries breaking diplomatic ties in rejection of the electoral result.
Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay announced the suspension of diplomatic contacts with Caracas, marking a new setback in the country’s foreign policy. These governments have aligned themselves with the position of ignoring the results that grant victory to Maduro.
More recently, Paraguay joined the list of countries that have broken relations, after its president, Santiago Peña, publicly expressed his support for opposition leader González Urrutia. This movement adds pressure to the already complicated international scenario facing the Maduro government.
Likewise, Chile also decided to break relations with Venezuela. According to a statement from the Chilean Foreign Ministry, the electoral fraud that ensures Maduro’s permanence in power was a key factor, added to the expulsion of Chilean diplomatic personnel last Augustwhich made an effective bilateral dialogue impossible. Chile reiterated its hope that Venezuela will return to the path of democracy and the protection of human rights.
Although some countries such as Brazil and Colombia maintained relations with Venezuela in recent years, Criticism from its leaders, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Gustavo Petro, has once again strained ties.
Both leaders have demanded the publication of the official minutes to take a clear position on the electoral result. However, until now, neither Brazil nor Colombia have recognized the victory of Maduro or González Urrutia, leaving their official position in suspense.
Despite widespread rejection in the region, Maduro retains the support of traditional allies such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Boliviawhose governments have unquestioningly supported the results issued by the CNE. It also has the support of extra-regional powers such as China, Russia, Iran and Türkiye, although these relationships tend to focus more on economic than political interests.
