Editing Foreign relations of Venezuela (section)

===Europe===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Country
! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Denmark}}||<!--Date started-->26 March 1838|| {{main|Denmark–Venezuela relations}}

* Denmark is accredited to Venezuela from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
* Venezuela is accredited to Denmark from its embassy in Oslo, Norway.
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|{{flag|France}}||<!--Date started-->|| {{main|France–Venezuela relations}}

France has an embassy in Caracas and Venezuela has an embassy in Paris.<ref name="dip" /> During the [[1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts]], the French Government "immediately signalled its refusal to accept a breakdown in institutional legitimacy.<ref name="dip"/> President Hugo Chávez met [[French President]] [[Jacques Chirac]] on three occasions in October 2002, March 2005 and October 2005.<ref name="dip">{{cite web |url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files_156/venezuela_719/index.html |title=Venezuela –France-Diplomatie |publisher=France Diplomatie |date=26 July 2010 |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-date=6 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406100851/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files_156/venezuela_719/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68744859.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025155347/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68744859.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2012 |agency=Associated Press |title=On European tour, Venezuela's Chavez meets France's Chirac |date=15 October 2002 |access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref> In 2007, Chávez visited French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] to discuss the situation of hostage [[Ingrid Betancourt]] held in Colombia.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-11-20-chavez-hostage_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=Chavez visit to France fuels hope about hostage | date=20 November 2007 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/20/AR2007112001859_pf.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Chavez Visits Paris for Hostage Talks | first=Jenny | last=Barchfield | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> In September 2008, Chávez again visited Sarkozy and Chávez said he sought aid from "friendly" countries like France, in exchange for "Venezuelan energy".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Chavez_backs_Sarkozys_call_for_financial_summit/articleshow/3535165.cms |work=The Times Of India |title=Chavez backs Sarkozy's call for financial summit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104142656/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Chavez_backs_Sarkozys_call_for_financial_summit/articleshow/3535165.cms |archive-date=4 November 2008 }}</ref>

In October 2008, the Venezuelan and French Foreign Ministers signed 10 agreements on cooperation including bilateral cooperation on energy, military, telecommunications, tourism and fight against drug trafficking.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/03/content_10144550.htm |title=Venezuela, France sign cooperation agreements |publisher=Xinhua |date=3 October 2008 |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024082301/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/03/content_10144550.htm |archive-date=24 October 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In 2000, French company [[Pechiney]] signed an agreement with the Venezuela government to invest [[USD]] 260 million over three years to expand state-owned bauxite and alumina.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F97E034998B8C03&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Venezuela: France's Pechiney to invest 260m dollars in state-owned bauxite plant |publisher=Venezuela News Online |date=6 December 2000 |access-date=17 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019021258/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F97E034998B8C03&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of 2005, French oil company [[TotalEnergies]] was the largest foreign investor in Venezuela.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2005/10/20/afx2289411.html | work=Forbes | title=Total seeks to resolve differences with Venezuela's Chavez over oil contracts | date=20 October 2005 }}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2005, Total commenced negotiations with the Venezuelan Government over a possible US$5 billion project to develop heavy oil in eastern Venezuela.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB110833729782453527?mod=googlewsj | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=Venezuelan Oil Deals Ease Tensions | date=14 February 2005 |access-date=31 July 2012 | first1=David | last1=Luhnow | first2=Peter | last2=Millard}}</ref> In April 2006, the Venezuelan government seized control of foreign owned oil fields including those operated by Total.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14455049_ITM | work=The America's Intelligence Wire | title=Venezuela's oil field seizures from European companies causes jitters about country's outlook | date=4 April 2006}}</ref>

In February 2019, France joined major EU countries and United States in recognising opposition leader [[Juan Guaidó]] as Venezuela’s interim president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190204-venezuela-europe-france-spain-guaido-interim-president|title=France joins major EU powers in recognising Guaido as Venezuela's acting president|date=4 February 2019|website=France 24}}</ref>

|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Germany}}||<!--Date started-->||{{Main|Germany–Venezuela relations}}
* Germany has an embassy in Caracas.
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Berlin]] and consulates-general in [[Frankfurt]] and [[Hamburg]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Greece}}||<!--Date started-->|| {{main|Greece–Venezuela relations}}

* Greece has an embassy in Caracas.
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Athens]].
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|{{flag|Holy See}}||<!--Date started-->1869|| {{main|Holy See–Venezuela relations}}

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1869. The Holy See has a [[nunciature]] in Caracas.<ref>{{Catholic-hierarchy|diocese|dxxve|Nunciature to Venezuela|21 January 2015}}</ref> Venezuela has an embassy in Rome.

There were tensions with the Vatican under the presidency of Hugo Chávez, a president who, while being Catholic, was ideologically influenced by [[Karl Marx]], [[Vladimir Lenin]] and [[Simón Bolívar]], political thinkers that have historically been opposed to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Chávez also cited his support for the [[liberation theology]] of [[Leonardo Boff]], which Rome had opposed in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://wwrn.org/articles/21492/ |title=Pope tells Chavez of Venezuelan concerns |agency=Associated Press |date=11 May 2006 |publisher=Worldwide Religious News |access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref>
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|{{flag|Italy}}||<!--Date started-->1861|| {{main|Italy–Venezuela relations}}

Bilateral relations between Italy and Venezuela began on 17 March 1856 with the accreditation in Naples of a Venezuelan Consulate. In 1857, the first Italian consular office in Venezuela was established in Maracaibo, and in 1859 the second was based in La Guaira, to receive the emigrants from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in Venezuela. With the constitution of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, under [[Vittorio Emanuele II]] was signed the treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation on 20 September 1861, still in force. Venezuela was the first country in Latin America to recognize the Kingdom of Italy.

The Italian presence in Venezuela takes relevance only in the early 20th century particularly after the Second World War. Currently the Italian community in Venezuela is the most consistent in Latin America after the one of Brazil and Argentina with around 200,000 residents (although only 115,000 are registered in the consular registers). However, it is estimated that the community of Italian origin exceeds one million people.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The bilateral relations between Italy and Venezuela increased when president Hugo Chávez signed the Framework Agreement on Economic, Industrial, Infrastructure and Development Cooperation between the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Government of the Italian Republic in 2001, From which established the celebration of the Italo-Venezuelan Council.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
* Italy has an embassy in Caracas and a consulate in Maracaibo.
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Rome]] and consulates-general in [[Milan]] and [[Naples]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Netherlands}}||<!--Date started-->1921|| {{main|Netherlands–Venezuela relations}}

Diplomatic relations between the governments of the Netherlands and Venezuela were established in 1921 following a treaty to that effect concluded at Caracas on 11 May 1920.<ref>Text in ''League of Nations Treaty Series'', vol. 7, pp. 86–95.</ref>

In January 2010, the Dutch PM [[Jan Peter Balkenende|Balkenende]] dismissed the allegations of Chávez that US war planes were being deployed as part of a planned attack. During a television interview Chávez had said ''"We accuse the American and the Dutch governments of provoking Venezuela and planning aggression"''. He showed a photograph of a US P3 warplane as proof. According to Balkenende the planes were being used to combat drug trafficking and the picture had been ''"taken from Wikipedia"'' and was dated from 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/stop-talking-nonsense-dutch-pm-tells-chavez |title=Stop talking nonsense, Dutch PM tells Chávez |author=Mock, Vanessa |date=22 January 2010 |publisher=Radio Netherlands |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308204823/http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/stop-talking-nonsense-dutch-pm-tells-chavez |archive-date=8 March 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> 
* the Netherlands has an embassy in Caracas.
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[The Hague]] and consulates-general in [[Oranjestad, Aruba]] and [[Willemstad, Curaçao]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Poland}}||<!--Date started-->1933|| {{main|Poland–Venezuela relations}}

* Poland has an embassy in Caracas.
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Warsaw]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Portugal}}||<!--Date started-->|| {{main|Portugal–Venezuela relations}}

Portugal and Venezuela meet regularly in the [[Ibero-American Summit]] and the Venezuela-Portugal Mixed Commission of Bilateral Monitoring created in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/globo/interior.aspx?content_id=2806390&seccao=EUA%20e%20Am%E9ricas&page=-1 |title=Venezuela, de destino migratório a alvo comercial |publisher=Diário de Noticias |access-date=17 June 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Economic, diplomatic and friendship ties between Venezuela and Portugal developed significantly during Chávez presidency. Chávez also acknowledged the importance of the large Portuguese community in Venezuela.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/passos-destaca-contributo-de-chavez-nas-relacoes-com-portugal_164190.html |title=Passos destaca "contributo" de Chávez nas relações com Portugal |publisher=Economico.pt |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904031037/http://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/passos-destaca-contributo-de-chavez-nas-relacoes-com-portugal_164190.html |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> During his term, he made four official visits at Portugal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/socrates-chavez-tinha-grande-amizade-por-portugal_164202.html |title=Sócrates: Chávez tinha "grande amizade" por Portugal |publisher=Economico.pt |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309201051/http://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/socrates-chavez-tinha-grande-amizade-por-portugal_164202.html |archive-date=9 March 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In 2018, Portugal and Venezuela signed 22 bilateral agreements with each other, Venezuela's Foreign Minister [[Jorge Arreaza]] described Portugal as a fundamental ally in support of the Bolivarian government during the "economic siege that the United States has waged against Venezuela".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sánchez|first1=Jefferson|title=Venezuela y Portugal firmaron acuerdos para fortalecer cooperación conjunta|url=http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.ve/index.php/2018/01/09/venezuela-y-portugal-firmaron-acuerdos-para-fortalecer-cooperacion-bilateral/|website=vicepresidencia.gob.ve/|publisher=Venezuela Government|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509075609/http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.ve/index.php/2018/01/09/venezuela-y-portugal-firmaron-acuerdos-para-fortalecer-cooperacion-bilateral/|archive-date=9 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Russia}}||3 March 1945|| {{main|Russia–Venezuela relations}}

Venezuela remains as one of Russia's most important trading and military allies in Latin America (after Brazil), making a strong bond in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Relations have become increasingly closer with Venezuela, the most recent visible results of which being Venezuela becoming the third nation to [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia|officially recognize]] the independence of [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]] and Russia approving a $2 billion loan to Venezuela for arms in September 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-chavez-analysis-idUSTRE58F56O20090916 |title=Weapons put provocateur Chavez back in U.S. spotlight |author=Daniel, Frank Jack |date=16 September 2009 |work=Reuters |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114181400/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/16/us-venezuela-chavez-analysis-idUSTRE58F56O20090916 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Serbia}}||<!--Date started-->|| {{main|Serbia–Venezuela relations}}

* Serbia is accredited to Venezuela from its embassy in [[Brasília]], Brazil.
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Belgrade]], Serbia.
* In 2007, Serbia exported goods worth €33,000 to Venezuela, while Venezuelan exports totaled €158,000.
* After the [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence]], Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced that Venezuela does not recognise Kosovo's independence on the grounds that it has been achieved through U.S. pressure, saying "This cannot be accepted. It's a very dangerous precedent for the entire world.".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11F4526FA814D958&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Venezuela's Chavez won't recognize independent Kosovo |date=21 February 2008 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904031037/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11F4526FA814D958&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 24 March 2008, Chávez accused Washington of trying to "weaken Russia" by supporting independence for Kosovo. He called Kosovo's new leader, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, a "terrorist" put in power by the U.S. and noted that the former rebel leader's nom de guerre was "The Snake".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-03-24-chavez-china_N.htm |title=Chavez: U.S. encouraging Tibet violence |date=24 March 2008 |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref> 
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|{{flag|Spain}}||<!--Date started-->|| {{main|Spain–Venezuela relations}}

In January 2019, Spain was the first leading EU country to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader [[Juan Guaidó]] as interim president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-nations-get-behind-venezuelas-juan-guaido-as-acting-president/a-47348321|title=EU nations get behind Venezuela's Juan Guaido as acting president &#124; DW &#124; 04.02.2019|website=DW.COM}}</ref>

* Spain has an embassy in Caracas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/caracas/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx|title=Páginas - Embajada de España en Venezuela|website=www.exteriores.gob.es|access-date=21 November 2014|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120005019/http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/caracas/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Madrid]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.embajadadevenezuela.es/|title=embajadadevenezuela.es &#124; Registered at|website=www.embajadadevenezuela.es}}</ref> and consulates-general in [[Barcelona]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consuladobarcelona.gob.ve/webalterna/|title=» Consulado General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en Barcelona|website=Consulado General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en Barcelona}}</ref> [[Bilbao]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.consulvenbilbao.org/|title=Consulado de Venezuela en Bilbao|website=www.consulvenbilbao.org}}</ref>[[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.consuladodevenezuelaencanarias.com/|title=ConsuladoVenezuelaCanarias|website=www.consuladodevenezuelaencanarias.com}}</ref> and [[Vigo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.consulvenevigo.es/contenido.php?idpag=1&mostrar=inicio|title=Consulado General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en Vigo|website=www.consulvenevigo.es}}</ref>
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|{{flag|Sweden}}||<!--Date started-->||{{main|Sweden–Venezuela relations}}
* Sweden is represented in Venezuela through its embassy in [[Bogotá]], Colombia. Consulates-generales in Caracas and consulate in Porlamar, Isla Margarita.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.swedenabroad.com/sv-SE/Ambassader/Bogota-DC/Kontakt/Ambassaden--konsulat/ |title=Sveriges ambassad &#124; SwedenAbroad |access-date=22 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406050249/http://www.swedenabroad.com/sv-SE/Ambassader/Bogota-DC/Kontakt/Ambassaden--konsulat/ |archive-date=6 April 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* Venezuela has an embassy in [[Stockholm]].
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|Ukraine}}||<!--Date started-->|| {{main|Ukraine–Venezuela relations}}

* Ukraine is accredited to Venezuela from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.
* Venezuela is accredited to Ukraine from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
|- valign="top"
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}||<!--Date started-->||{{Main|United Kingdom–Venezuela relations}}
Venezuela established [[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom|diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom]] on 29 October 1834.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*Venezuela maintains an [[Embassy of Venezuela, London|embassy]] in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Diplomat Magazine|title=Venezuela|url=https://diplomatmagazine.com/heads-of-mission/south-america/venezuela/|date=31 March 2020|website=Diplomat Magazine|access-date=31 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325014242/https://diplomatmagazine.com/heads-of-mission/south-america/venezuela/|archive-date=25 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The United Kingdom is accredited to Venezuela through its embassy in Caracas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-venezuela|title=British Embassy Caracas|website=GOV.UK|access-date=31 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325014242/https://diplomatmagazine.com/heads-of-mission/south-america/venezuela/|archive-date=25 March 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
Both countries share common membership of the [[International Criminal Court]], and the [[World Trade Organization]]. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaties/bit/3065/united-kingdom---venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of-bit-1995-|title=United Kingdom - Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of BIT (1995)|website=UN Trade and Development|access-date=24 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501190808/https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaties/bit/3065/united-kingdom---venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of-bit-1995-|archive-date=1 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2019, United Kingdom recognized opposition leader [[Juan Guaidó]] as the interim president of Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-britain-idUSKCN1PT0Q3|title=Britain recognizes Guaido as interim president of Venezuela|newspaper=Reuters |date=4 February 2019|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref>
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