Venezuela and Panama to Reactivate Consular Services. Photo: Social Media
Guacamaya, June 20, 2025. Both governments prioritize serving their resident communities while full diplomatic relations remain unrestored.
The foreign ministries of Panama and Venezuela announced this Thursday that they will soon reactivate their consular services in Caracas and Panama City. This measure aims to provide assistance and protection to citizens of both countries residing abroad.
According to an official statement from Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIRE), the decision responds to the “imperative need” to address the consular affairs of their nationals. Although this is a significant step in restoring services, it does not, for now, imply the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two governments.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino was emphatic on June 6th, stating that there are “no talks” with Caracas regarding a potential restoration of diplomatic relations. This statement came just days after the resumption of commercial flights between Panama and Venezuela, which had been suspended for ten months.
Direct flights between the two countries resumed on May 27th via the airlines Estelar (Venezuela) and Copa Airlines (Panama). These routes had been interrupted since July 31, 2024, after Panama rejected the results of the Venezuelan presidential elections. The Dominican Republic was also affected by the measure, given its frequent use as an air connection point for Venezuelan passengers due to the limited availability of international flights.
The consular reopening is seen as a practical step forward in a context of diplomatic tensions that remain unresolved.
