Dominican Republic reopens Caracas consulate as IDB returns to Venezuela

The Dominican Republic has reopened its Consulate General in Caracas, Venezuela, after more than two years of closure. The decision follows a gradual normalization process of diplomatic relations agreed upon in August between the governments of President Luis Abinader and the interim administration led by Delcy Rodríguez. The consulate, headed by Consul General Héctor Pastor Vásquez, will provide full services including passport applications, notary services, and citizen protection. Users with ongoing processes in Bogotá, Colombia, must complete them there.

Simultaneously, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced the formal reopening of its representative office in Caracas, marking its return to the country after a seven-year suspension. The IDB's operations were halted in 2019 following institutional ruptures. As an initial action, the bank approved one million dollars in emergency funds for humanitarian aid and damage assessment following recent earthquakes in Venezuela. While the reopening is a significant milestone, the bank noted that Venezuela maintains an estimated debt of 2.5 billion dollars that requires restructuring before new credit lines can be accessed.