Venezuela and Dominican Republic agree to restore diplomatic relations after a two-year break

Aug 2, 2026

On August 2, 2026, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic announced an agreement to gradually restore diplomatic and consular relations, which were severed in July 2024 following disputes over Venezuela's presidential election. Under a mutually agreed roadmap, the first phase will focus on restoring consular services in Caracas and Santo Domingo to facilitate passports and visas. This reconciliation, led by Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez, follows similar agreements with Chile and Peru.

Venezuela-Dominican Republic diplomatic normalization

▪The agreement to restore ties between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic was reached through a sustained bilateral dialogue.
▪Venezuela and the Dominican Republic agreed on August 2, 2026, to initiate a process of gradual normalization of their diplomatic and consular relations.

2024 Venezuelan election dispute

▪The Dominican Republic was among seven regional nations from which Venezuela demanded the immediate withdrawal of diplomatic representatives following the July 2024 election dispute.
▪Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic in July 2024 after the Dominican Republic questioned the official results of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election.

Consular services restoration

▪The first stage of the bilateral agreement focuses on adopting the necessary measures to restore consular services in Caracas and Santo Domingo.
▪The restoration of consular services will enable the regular processing of passports, visas, and legal certifications for citizens of both nations.

Commercial flight reactivation

▪Laser Airlines is the only airline authorized to operate commercial routes between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
▪Venezuela and the Dominican Republic agreed in February 2026 to reactivate commercial flights and air transport between their countries.

Bilateral roadmap implementation

▪The diplomatic opening with the Dominican Republic follows similar agreements reached by Venezuela's interim government to restore ties with Chile and Peru.
▪The normalization process is structured around a bilateral roadmap developed by common agreement, which will advance toward full diplomatic ties based on a mutually agreed schedule.