In a landmark diplomatic development during an official visit to Suriname by Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez, the two South American nations have signed a sweeping package of cooperation agreements covering key sectors from fisheries to energy, education and connectivity, deepening regional integration between the neighboring countries.
One of the most notable commitments to come out of the talks is a fisheries access agreement that will grant fishing licenses to 200 Venezuelan fishermen from the coastal states of Nueva Esparta and Sucre, permitting them to operate in an Atlantic fishing corridor designated by Suriname. Rodríguez announced the arrangement following bilateral discussions with Suriname’s president Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, noting that the partnership is structured to deliver mutual economic benefits to both nations. Beyond creating livelihood opportunities for Venezuelan fishermen, Rodríguez explained that the deal will open new export pathways for Suriname’s popular fish species including red snapper and lane snapper to the large U.S. market and other international destinations. At the time of the announcement, no further details were released on the exact terms of access, the size and geographic boundaries of the designated corridor, or the regulatory framework that will govern fishing activity in the area.
The fisheries deal is just one of 10 total agreements reached during the diplomatic visit, which includes nine formal cooperation documents and one joint statement signed by the two governments.
In the aviation sector, the two countries have moved forward with concrete plans to reestablish commercial flight connections between their territories, and have agreed to grant fifth freedom rights to airlines from both nations. This regulatory change will allow air carriers to operate routes that pass through each country’s territory, opening up new route options and increasing flexibility for regional air travel. The improved air links are designed to boost bilateral tourism, with both governments committing to bring tour operators closer together and develop joint multi-destination tourism products that draw on the unique attractions of both countries. Rodríguez emphasized that beyond air connectivity, the two nations also need to expand maritime transport links between their coasts, noting that regional connectivity within South America and the Caribbean currently lags behind connections to countries outside the region. The new cooperation agreements are intended to reverse this imbalance and strengthen intra-regional ties.
Another core pillar of the new bilateral partnership focuses on developing Suriname’s growing oil and gas sector. Venezuela, which has decades of experience in hydrocarbon exploration, production and processing, has offered to share its technical expertise with Suriname, and will provide specialized training programs for workers in Suriname’s emerging oil industry. Rodríguez specifically highlighted Venezuela’s leading energy research institute Intevep and the Venezuelan University of Hydrocarbons as key institutional partners, noting that both organizations hold advanced technological capabilities that can be mobilized to support the cooperation effort.
Agricultural development and food security have also been prioritized in the new cooperation framework. The two countries have agreed to align their sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory standards to facilitate agricultural trade, exchange knowledge on animal genetics, and collaborate on advancing regenerative agricultural practices that support long-term sustainability.
In the education sector, Venezuela is opening up new training opportunities for Surinamese students. The Latin American University of Medicine will open its doors to Surinamese students seeking to pursue medical degrees in Venezuela. Additional agreements have been reached for university-level training in hydrocarbons, public health, agriculture and technology, as well as expanded technical and vocational education opportunities for Surinamese learners.
Looking ahead, the next meeting of the bilateral Mixed Commission between Venezuela and Suriname is scheduled to take place in Suriname during the first quarter of next year. Rodríguez extended a formal invitation to President Simons to visit Venezuela in the near future, and thanked the Surinamese government and people for the humanitarian assistance Suriname provided after the June 24 earthquake that struck Venezuela. She also noted that she has a long history of engagement with Suriname, having previously visited the country in past roles as an energy official and Venezuela’s foreign minister for discussions related to the Petrocaribe energy initiative.