On a working visit to Venezuela, Melvin Bouva, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation, held high-level talks with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez focused on expanding and deepening diplomatic and economic ties between the two Caribbean-South American nations. The meeting, held in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, centered on boosting collaborative projects across a suite of strategic priority sectors, including energy, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, education, and capacity building for the oil and gas industry.
Bouva’s visit was arranged at the invitation of his Venezuelan counterpart, and aligned with broader regional integration goals and the advancement of South-South cooperation, a framework that fosters knowledge and resource sharing among developing nations. Both delegations framed the Caracas meeting as a pivotal milestone in the ongoing development of bilateral relations between Suriname and Venezuela, with both sides confirming their commitment to expanding existing partnership frameworks and advancing joint projects that deliver mutual benefits to their populations and economies.
Dialogue during the talks also addressed core regional priorities: the delegates emphasized the critical role of inclusive economic growth, expanded cross-border trade, and sustained regional stability for long-term development across the broader area. Both sides further underlined the urgent need for long-term sustainable cooperation across both the Caribbean region and the Amazon basin, two ecologically and economically vital areas shared by the two nations.
During the discussions, Bouva reaffirmed Suriname’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Venezuela, noting that the two sides will work to turn diplomatic understandings into concrete agreements that drive shared economic growth, advance regional integration, and strengthen long-term sustainable diplomatic ties. Both Suriname and Venezuela concluded the meeting by reaffirming that open, constructive dialogue, mutual respect for national sovereignty, and strategic cross-border collaboration remain foundational to advancing shared interests across the South American region.