The governments of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela announced a significant breakthrough in bilateral relations on Sunday, 1 February 2026, confirming the imminent reopening of consular services and the restoration of direct commercial flights between the two nations.
The move marks a turning point in a diplomatic freeze that began in 2024, when relations were severed following the disputed Venezuelan presidential elections. According to a joint statement issued from Caracas, the decision was reached through coordinated efforts to assist citizens residing in both countries and to restore regional connectivity.
Under the new agreement, the Dominican consulate in Caracas and the Venezuelan consulate in Santo Domingo will resume operations in the coming days. This reactivation is expected to clear a massive backlog of visa applications, legalizations, and other migratory procedures that have been paralyzed for nearly two years.
In tandem with the diplomatic reopening, civil aviation authorities in both countries have been instructed to begin the immediate process of re-establishing commercial flight routes. The suspension of these flights since 2024 had forced travelers to rely on expensive, multi-stop connections through third countries, significantly impacting trade and the large Venezuelan diaspora living in the Dominican Republic.
Signs of a thaw in relations had been brewing since late 2025. In October, Dominican President Luis Abinader issued Decree 573-25, appointing retired Major General Jaime Marte Martínez as the new Consul General in Caracas. Though the decree was signed on 1 October 2025, it was officially gazetted later that month, signaling the Dominican government’s preparation for this weekend’s formal announcement.
The diplomatic rift occurred in mid-2024 when the Dominican Republic joined several other nations in questioning the transparency of Venezuela’s electoral process. In response, the Maduro administration suspended flights and withdrew diplomatic staff.
The joint statement characterized this latest development as a “significant step toward the normalization of bilateral relations,” prioritizing humanitarian and logistical needs over the political differences that led to the initial breakdown.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations had earlier announced it did not recognize the government of acting President Delcy Rodriguez after the departure of Maduro.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
DR1 News
2 February 2026