Israel Restores Consular Ties with Venezuela Amid Latin America’s Pro-Israel Shift

Israel and Venezuela announced the renewal of consular relations last week, marking a significant diplomatic development following the fall of Nicolás Maduro’s regime and a devastating earthquake in Venezuela. The restoration of ties comes after prolonged negotiations between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia, and reflects Venezuela’s shift from an Iranian-aligned stance to a more pro-Western and pro-Israel orientation under President Delcy Rodríguez, who succeeded Maduro.

The political change in Venezuela followed a dramatic U.S. special forces operation in January that captured Maduro and transferred him to New York, leading to Rodríguez’s rise with American backing. Israel quickly leveraged this opportunity, especially after the earthquake that reportedly killed around 10,000 people in northern Venezuela. Sa’ar promptly sent an Israeli delegation to assist with disaster relief, which met with President Rodríguez and continues to operate in the country.

This diplomatic breakthrough is part of a broader trend across Latin America, where right-wing leaders have increasingly aligned with Israel over the past two years. Colombia recently became the second country after the U.S. to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Other nations including Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama have also moved rightward, strengthening ties with Israel. Israeli officials emphasize that while consular relations are still in early stages, the shift away from Iranian influence in Venezuela is a major geopolitical event.

However, Brazil remains an exception in the region, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva maintaining strained relations with Israel and facing a pro-Israel challenger, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, in the upcoming October presidential election. The rightward wave in Latin America is driven by dissatisfaction with economic and security conditions and has been supported by the Trump administration’s interventions favoring right-wing candidates.

Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar has prioritized Latin America in 2026, engaging with regional leaders including Colombia’s president to deepen and stabilize these emerging alliances, aiming to sustain them despite potential political shifts in the future.