Venezuela, Colombia resume flights after two-year break
After Bogota and Caracas severed their ties in 2019 following Colombia's recognition of the US-backed Juan Guaido as interim president of Colombia, bilateral relations are on their way to amelioration.
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Trade between the two countries had been estimated at $8 billion before ties were severed in 2019.
Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramon Velasquez announced on Monday that his country and Colombia resumed mutual flights on Monday.
This marked the first flight between the two countries' capitals in more than two years, and was carried out by Turpial airline.
"On an instruction by President Nicolas Maduro, commercial air travel with the Republic of Colombia was resumed today, we are pleased to establish a connection with this fraternal country," Velasquez wrote on Twitter.
#7Nov Por instrucción del presidente @NicolasMaduro hoy se reanudaron las operaciones de transporte aéreo comercial con la República de Colombia, estamos contentos de conectar con este país hermano. Siguiendo el camino de hermandad y Paz de nuestro Libertador Simón Bolívar pic.twitter.com/ywN9FPKov0
— Ramón Celestino Velásquez Araguayán (@rvaraguayan) November 7, 2022
The two countries' leaders, Nicolas Maduro and Gustavo Petro, signed a joint declaration last week with key areas of cooperation for the next few years.
Colombia and Venezuelan relations were severed in 2019 after Colombia's former president recognized the US-backed Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. Bogota's new president, Gustavo Petro, said he aimed to restore ties with Venezuela after he became president on August 7.
The two countries formally rekindled diplomatic ties on August 29; on September 26, they reopened their border to vehicles transporting goods.
Prior to the total closure of the borders in 2008, commercial relations were estimated to be worth about $7.2 billion.
