Venezuela cancels the interim president’s first foreign visit to Colombia

Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez suddenly canceled her first international trip since taking office, hours before she was due to arrive in Colombia.

Rodríguez was due to visit the border city of Cúcuta for a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, but authorities confirmed on Thursday that the visit would not take place.

Preparations for the event, including a stage set up in Cúcuta, were dismantled after the cancellation.

No official explanation was given as to why the trip was cancelled.

Rodríguez assumed power in January after his predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, was captured by U.S. forces and brought to the United States to stand trial. Since then, he has pursued a series of reforms, including opening Venezuela’s oil industry to foreign investment, firing officials accused of corruption and releasing political prisoners.

The planned meeting in Cúcuta was seen as a step towards improving relations between Venezuela and Colombia, which have been tense in recent years. Rodriguez’s government has also been accused by Bogota of pushing Colombian rebel groups back across the border, although Caracas denies funding or protecting such groups.

Before the cancellation, US President Donald Trump had spoken to Petro and wished him well in the planned meeting, underlining international interest in the summit.

Colombia has not formally recognized the legitimacy of the elections that brought Rodríguez’s allies to power in 2024.

Officials from both countries have not yet announced a new date for the visit.