President Maduro Meets With Colombian Delegation (+Monómeros)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro held a meeting with a Colombian delegation at the Aquiles Nazoa Cultural House, focused on strengthening the ties of cooperation between the two countries.

The Venezuelan president highlighted the joint work and support to enhance bilateral development for the benefit of both nations.

“We are in unity, heading towards bilateral development for the well-being of our peoples,” wrote President Maduro on social media on Friday, July 4, upholding his government’s commitment to integration and peace.

On Thursday, July 3, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez held a bilateral meeting with the Colombian minister of Mines and Energy, Edwin Palma, as part of the joint initiatives in energy matters between the two countries.

This meeting is evidence that both countries seek to consolidate a stronger integration in energy matters. They have publicly expressed their willingness to strengthen institutional ties, overcoming historical differences through technical diplomacy and joint development.

Throughout this year, Venezuela and Colombia have strengthened their bilateral relations with the broadening of the Partial Scope Agreement (AAP) No. 28 and the promotion of Binational Economic Zones to promote economic cooperation mechanisms that respond to the real needs of both peoples, betting on a strategic vision for the future.

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Monómeros
Given the meeting’s focus on energy, some analysts speculate about the possibility that the discussion between the Venezuelan and Colombian sides revolved around the status of Monómeros, a Venezuelan asset in Colombia seized during the failed US-led Guaidó “regime change” project.

By the end of last year, Colombian news outlets reported that Monómeros, in Venezuelan hands since President Gustavo Petro took office in Colombia, is being sold to private investors. Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on these reports.

President Petro published a letter to President Maduro, dated November 8, 2024, in which he expressed his opposition to the alleged sale of Monómeros and directly held Venezuelan minister for Industries, Alex Saab, responsible for the sale.

On November 18, 2024, the Colombian Superintendency of Companies (Supersociedades) announced that it will subject the company to “administrative control” given “the possible sale of its shares.”

For Colombia, the company represents a strategic asset. It is not a Colombian asset but a Venezuelan one that heavily affected Venezuelan finances due to the complicity of the Colombian state with the Guaidó coup, before President Petro took office. For this reason, it would be an important issue to resolve for the two governments.

(Últimas Noticias) with Orinoco Tribune content

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/SF