Colombian President Gustavo Petro will travel to Caracas next week for talks with Venezuelan authorities, in another sign of deepening engagement between the two neighbours after years of strained relations.
Petro said on Friday he is expected to arrive in the Venezuelan capital on April 24, where he is scheduled to meet officials from Venezuela, including interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, as part of ongoing efforts to advance bilateral cooperation on security, energy and trade issues.
The planned visit follows a previously attempted meeting between the two sides that was cancelled due to security concerns at a border location, prompting both governments to shift the engagement to Caracas instead.
The trip underscores a continued thaw in Colombia–Venezuela relations, which have gradually improved since Petro took office in 2022 and moved to restore diplomatic ties and reopen cross border engagement mechanisms after years of political tension.
Officials on both sides are expected to discuss a range of issues including border security coordination, trade facilitation, and energy cooperation, with particular attention to stabilising frontier regions where illegal armed groups and smuggling networks remain active.
The meeting also reflects broader regional efforts to normalise relations between the two countries, which share a long and often volatile border that has been central to migration flows, security challenges and economic exchange in northern South America.
No detailed agenda has yet been released, and it remains unclear whether any formal agreements will be announced following the visit.
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