This will be the sixth meeting between both leaders after reestablishing political and diplomatic relations in August 2022.

Maduro announced on Monday the development of a joint work agenda in which they will address items related to diplomatic cooperation, the assault on the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador, the Palestine genocide, and the strengthening of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). “We will surely delve into energy, gas, oil, border security and commercial and economic issues,” he said.

Maduro referred to the differences that may have arisen with the Foreign Ministry’s and Petro’s statements about the electoral process underway in Venezuela; he called not to scandalize or make abnormal “differences that may be had, life is beautiful when there are differences of criteria,” he noted, and assured that “no one will separate us from Colombia”; “We have great objectives to achieve together, such as advancing the economy, trade and peace; If there is any difference, welcome be the difference.”

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries held a meeting on Monday in Cúcuta, Colombia, durinjg which important regional topics were addressed, including the joint rejection of the assault on the Mexican embassy in Ecuador.

Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yván Gil wrote on X that “we share great expectations about the pro tempore presidency of Colombia in CELAC in 2025.”

Gil described as fruitful the binational meeting in the context of strengthening bilateral relations, and especially highlighted “the successful expansion” of trade between the two nations. He also announced at the end of the meeting with his counterpart, Luis Gilberto Murillo, the invitation to Colombia to join as observer of the presidential elections on July 28th, to which observers from more than 67 international electoral organizations from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, will be invited.

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