Canadian diplomats traveled to Venezuela last week as Mark Carney's government considers restoring formal ties following the United States operation to remove President Nicolás Maduro.
Two Canadian government officials visited Caracas in part to assess the embassy building, according to people familiar with the matter. The embassy has been closed since 2019, when Canada formally recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president.
Maduro stayed in power until he was forcibly removed by the U.S. military in January. His vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was installed as acting president.
Global Affairs Canada, the government department that manages diplomatic relations, said in a statement: “Canada continues to evaluate the evolving situation in Venezuela, including whether conditions exist for the reestablishment of a physical diplomatic presence in the country. As part of this effort, Canada may undertake periodic official diplomatic travel to Venezuela, as has occurred recently.”
Carney called Maduro’s removal “welcome news” in January, adding that Canada stands by the Venezuelan people’s right to “build their own future in a peaceful and democratic society.”
A Global Affairs Canada official told a parliamentary committee in March that Canada will only reopen its embassy if Venezuelan authorities properly accredit Canadian diplomats with legal protections to help ensure their safety.
Several Canadian companies are pursuing or have expressed interest in opportunities in Venezuela, including firms with the technical expertise needed to help revive the country’s neglected oil fields. TSX-listed Gold Reserve Ltd. is also seeking a way to take back valuable gold deposits that were seized by the Venezuelan government.
Canada weighed restoring ties in 2023 amid an effort by the Biden administration to push Maduro into holding free and fair elections.
