Venezuela and Israel have agreed to restore consular relations, in a major historic shift, following the US orchestrated overthrow of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro back in January.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro's VP, is at the head of a state system that is still fundamentally the same - which can be summed up as Chavismo Socialism - except the government now serves to do Washington's bidding from opening up oil access to foreign policy realignment.
via ReutersThis external realignment has been seen most on the world stage on issues where Caracas was once among the most outspoken Global South countries condemning 'Western hegemony'.
Venezuela’s minister of foreign relations, Felix Plasencia Gonzalez, announced on X on Tuesday: "The Governments of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the State of Israel report that they have agreed to continue bilateral technical cooperation derived from the emergency and recovery efforts following the double earthquake, as well as to establish a coordination mechanism for the provision of consular services to their respective citizens residing in both countries."
Caracas had severed ties 17 years ago in light of Israeli bombardment of Gaza at the time. Venezuela had also very openly aligned itself with America's longtime foe Iran, in addition to Russia and China.
The former Maduro government had even pursued military cooperation with these countries, and hosted some of their military deployments over the years.
For its part, the Israeli government announced on X on its Spanish-language account that "both governments recognize the importance of the bond between the State of Israel and the Jewish community residing in Venezuela, which constitutes an important historical bridge of friendship between the two countries."
And a group called the Confederation of Jewish Associations of Venezuela announced that "After 17 years without consular relations, Venezuela and Israel are advancing in a confidence-building process that began with the various Israeli and Jewish organizations that came to Venezuela on the occasion of the double earthquake that struck the country on June 24, and which on that occasion provided great technical and humanitarian aid in the face of the tragedy and devastation."
Consulates are expected to open up in each country, to facilitate travel and help deepen relations to between the countries, now that relations are moving toward normalization again.
Venezuela and Israel have agreed to start offering consular services for each other's citizens.
There is still no talk of sending diplomats or opening permanent missions, however. pic.twitter.com/zuOQS5UEz5
Since the Spring, American consular activity has been up and running, along with presumably the Caracas CIA station, also as even the Pentagon has held military drills in and around the Venezuelan capital.
Tyler Durden Wed, 08/12/2026 - 12:40Dozens of migrants who entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta during last month’s massive border surge have reportedly reached mainland Spain, contradicting the socialist government’s insistence that none had left the North African enclave.
Sky News reported Tuesday, citing Spanish police sources, that about 75 migrants who entered Ceuta in late July had reached Andalucía in southern Spain.
“Spanish sources in Andalucía said that around 75 migrants out of the estimated 72,000 who entered Ceuta illegally in a mass rush to the border at the end of July had reached the mainland,” Sky News reported.
The report directly conflicts with assurances from the government of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Nobody has left the city towards the peninsula, nor can they do so,” Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Tuesday during a visit to Ceuta.
Tens of thousands of mostly male North African migrants entered Ceuta on July 30, overwhelming the territory’s law enforcement, migrant processing facilities and other public services. Estimates have placed the number of arrivals between 60,000 and 80,000, approaching Ceuta’s normal population of about 80,000.
The surge followed a Spanish judicial ruling preventing authorities from immediately returning migrants who reach Spanish territory by land and requiring a longer legal process before removal.
Ceuta President and Mayor Juan Jesús Vivas has sharply criticized Madrid’s response and disputed the government’s portrayal of the crisis as under control.
“Ceuta has suffered and continues to suffer an invasion,” Vivas said Tuesday.
“We calculate that 10,000 immigrants are still in Ceuta and this creates an unsustainable situation.”
“The reaction of the government has not been on par with the demands of what occurred,” he added.
“A violation of the territorial integrity of Spain has occurred.”
The numbers provided by Madrid and local officials have also raised questions about the whereabouts of thousands of migrants. El País reported that the Sánchez government says 70,000 people entered Ceuta and 7,000 have been deported. El Mundo reported Monday that local officials estimate about 11,000 remain in Ceuta out of roughly 80,000 who entered.
Police sources told Sky News the crossings to mainland Spain represented a “worrying reactivation” of the migration route across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Albares nevertheless maintained Tuesday that the government would ultimately remove those who entered illegally.
“Up to the last person who entered irregularly into Spain will return to Morocco,” he said.
El País noted that Albares did not provide a specific timetable or mechanism for carrying out those removals.
The reports that migrants have reached mainland Spain add to mounting questions over Madrid’s handling of the crisis and whether the Sánchez government has accurately accounted for those who entered Ceuta.
Tyler Durden Wed, 08/12/2026 - 12:20