Chile-Venezuela Dialogue 'More Fluid' After Earthquake, Says Undersecretary

Chilean Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez announced that the support provided to Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes on June 24 has led to more fluid communication channels between the two countries. However, Pavez cautioned that concrete steps toward re-establishing consular relations have yet to materialize.

Chile was among the first nations to dispatch humanitarian and rescue aid to Caracas after the magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 earthquakes, which tragically claimed over 5,300 lives. Shortly after the seismic events, Chilean President José Antonio Kast spoke by phone with Venezuela's acting leader, Delcy Rodríguez, to express solidarity. This call marked the first direct contact between the leaders of both nations since Venezuela withdrew its diplomatic personnel from Santiago after the July 2024 elections.

The diplomatic rupture occurred after the government of former President Gabriel Boric questioned the transparency of those elections and alleged irregularities. The withdrawal of personnel left a significant portion of the approximately 700,000 Venezuelans residing in Chile without in-person consular services. It also complicated President Kast's campaign promise to expel over 330,000 irregular migrants living in Chile.

Pavez indicated that Chile hopes to resume diplomatic engagement to facilitate various administrative processes, including the expulsion of irregular migrants convicted of crimes. Reports suggest that nearly half of Chile's more than 75,000 outstanding expulsion orders are for Venezuelan citizens, with their execution stalled due to the severed diplomatic ties. Chile has recently proceeded with expelling 49 migrants to Colombia and Peru, bringing the total deportations this year to 1,270. The Director of the National Migration Service noted that 1,184 Venezuelans have voluntarily departed Chile since the earthquake.

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The possibility of having assisted in the dramatic events linked to the June 24 earthquake has allowed for more fluid communication channels, but there is still no news regarding the re-establishment of consular relations.