CARACAS, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye, with both sides expressing a willingness to fully restore bilateral ties.
The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Rodriguez assumed the interim presidency in January, following a period of strained relations over Venezuela's 2024 presidential election.
In a social media post after the meeting, Rodriguez said the two sides had explored opportunities to promote economic exchanges, expand investment and deepen friendly bilateral cooperation.
According to a statement from the Brazilian presidency, the leaders expressed their willingness to restore bilateral relations fully at the highest level. They also discussed potential Brazilian investment in Venezuela's oil sector and agreed that Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira would visit Venezuela before the end of the year.
On July 29, 2024, Venezuela recalled its diplomatic personnel from several countries, including Argentina and Peru, and ordered diplomats from those countries to leave after their governments questioned or rejected the results of Venezuela's presidential election.
On Aug. 5, 2024, Brazil agreed to represent the interests of Argentina and Peru in Venezuela and assume custody of their diplomatic premises, property and archives.
However, on Sept. 7, 2024, Venezuela revoked Brazil's authorization to represent Argentina's interests in the country, alleging that Venezuelan opposition figures sheltering at the Argentine Embassy were using the premises to plan terrorist activities and assassination attempts against President Nicolas Maduro and then-Executive Vice President Rodriguez.
On Jan. 3, 2026, U.S. forces launched a military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and taking them to the United States.
Lula condemned the U.S. military action, saying it crossed "an unacceptable line" and constituted a "grave affront" to Venezuela's sovereignty and a "flagrant violation" of international law. ■
