Chile and Venezuela agreed to restore consular relations as the first stage of a gradual normalization process after two years of broken diplomatic ties. Both governments said the immediate objective is to provide protection and consular services to their nationals living in the other country.
The roadmap was negotiated by the administration of Chilean President José Antonio Kast and the Venezuelan government led on an acting basis by Delcy Rodríguez. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia described the initiative as a process based on dialogue, reciprocity, mutual respect and international law.
Kast called the decision the beginning of a new bilateral phase. He identified security, migration and economic development as the principal shared challenges and credited diplomatic teams in both capitals with preparing the arrangement methodically.
The consular dimension has considerable demographic weight. More than 700,000 Venezuelans live in Chile, while around 25,000 Chileans reside in Venezuela, leaving large communities without full bilateral mechanisms during the diplomatic rupture.
Migration enforcement is also part of Santiago's calculation. Chile has more than 75,000 pending expulsion orders, over half involving Venezuelan nationals, and Kast has argued that direct relations with Caracas are essential for arranging return flights for migrants without legal status.
The relationship broke down in July 2024 after the government of Nicolás Maduro demanded that Chile and six other countries withdraw their representatives. The action followed criticism of Venezuela's presidential election, whose official result was challenged by the Chilean administration then led by Gabriel Boric.
A channel reopened after Chile provided assistance following Venezuela's destructive double earthquake on June 24. Chilean Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez said that cooperation allowed communications between the governments to become more fluid.
The agreement establishes a first operational layer rather than the immediate restoration of full diplomatic relations. Its progress will be measured through consular access, migration and security coordination, and whether the two governments can sustain the broader dialogue while holding different political positions.
