Chile says restoring relations with Venezuela depends on Caracas's will

Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna announced that restoring consular services with Venezuela is a top priority for his government. However, he emphasized that the resumption of these services hinges on the "will" of Venezuelan authorities.

"The idea is that this should happen as soon as possible, but it also depends on Venezuela's willingness," Pérez Mackenna told reporters. He confirmed that efforts to re-establish consular relations began with a dialogue with his Venezuelan counterpart in March during the CELAC meeting and that the process is ongoing. Chile formally sent a diplomatic note to advance the administrative process following that encounter.

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The idea is that this should happen as soon as possible, but it also depends on Venezuela's willingness.

The government of President Gabriel Boric has repeatedly stressed the "essential" nature of re-establishing consular ties to facilitate the expulsion of irregular Venezuelan immigrants via flights to Caracas, a significant campaign pledge. Local media reports indicate over 75,000 expulsion orders are pending, with half of those concerning Venezuelan citizens.

Diplomatic ties between Santiago and Caracas were severed after the 2024 Venezuelan elections, when Chile's previous government questioned the transparency and denounced irregularities in the electoral process. Venezuela subsequently withdrew its diplomatic personnel from Chile, demanding the departure of Chilean representatives. This rupture has impacted hundreds of thousands of citizens and complicated cooperation and security mechanisms between the two nations. Official figures show over 700,000 Venezuelans reside in Chile, while approximately 25,000 Chileans live in Venezuela.

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We are committed to achieving the re-establishment of consular relations. That started with a dialogue with his foreign minister at CELAC, a process that continues.