Venezuela & Israel Restore Consular Ties After 17 Years Of No Diplomatic Relations

Venezuela and Israel have agreed to restore consular relations, in a major historic shift, following the US orchestrated overthrow of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro back in January.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s VP, is at the head of a state system that is still fundamentally the same – which can be summed up as Chavismo Socialism – except the government now serves to do Washington’s bidding from opening up oil access to foreign policy realignment. 

This external realignment has been seen most on the world stage on issues where Caracas was once among the most outspoken Global South countries condemning ‘Western hegemony’.

Venezuela’s minister of foreign relations, Felix Plasencia Gonzalez, announced on X on Tuesday: “The Governments of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the State of Israel report that they have agreed to continue bilateral technical cooperation derived from the emergency and recovery efforts following the double earthquake, as well as to establish a coordination mechanism for the provision of consular services to their respective citizens residing in both countries.”

Caracas had severed ties 17 years ago in light of Israeli bombardment of Gaza at the time. Venezuela had also very openly aligned itself with America’s longtime foe Iran, in addition to Russia and China. 

The former Maduro government had even pursued military cooperation with these countries, and hosted some of their military deployments over the years.

For its part, the Israeli government announced on X on its Spanish-language account that “both governments recognize the importance of the bond between the State of Israel and the Jewish community residing in Venezuela, which constitutes an important historical bridge of friendship between the two countries.”

And a group called the Confederation of Jewish Associations of Venezuela announced that “After 17 years without consular relations, Venezuela and Israel are advancing in a confidence-building process that began with the various Israeli and Jewish organizations that came to Venezuela on the occasion of the double earthquake that struck the country on June 24, and which on that occasion provided great technical and humanitarian aid in the face of the tragedy and devastation.”

Consulates are expected to open up in each country, to facilitate travel and help deepen relations to between the countries, now that relations are moving toward normalization again.

Venezuela and Israel have agreed to start offering consular services for each other’s citizens.

There is still no talk of sending diplomats or opening permanent missions, however. pic.twitter.com/zuOQS5UEz5

— Elias Ferrer (@FerrerBreda) August 11, 2026

Since the Spring, American consular activity has been up and running, along with presumably the Caracas CIA station, also as even the Pentagon has held military drills in and around the Venezuelan capital.