Venezuela and Colombia have signed an agreement to create a joint Peace and Economic Zone along their shared border, aiming to boost cross-border trade, enhance security, and promote Latin American regional integration.

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On July 17, 2025, top government officials from Venezuela and Colombia convened in Caracas to sign a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a Binational Special Economic Zone of Peace. The agreement was signed by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Colombian Commerce Minister Diana Morales, and Colombian Chief of Staff Alfredo Saade.

The initiative seeks to deepen bilateral cooperation by strengthening productive sectors, encouraging joint exports, and ensuring stability in historically tense border areas. The zone is also intended to serve as a platform for long-term development and social cohesion between the two nations.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil described the memorandum as “a historic step in reaffirming the unity of our peoples.” President Nicolás Maduro echoed that sentiment, calling the document “a historic milestone” in building a shared future based on peace and cooperation.

“This memorandum lays the foundation for a zone of peace, unity, and economic development,” said Vice President Rodríguez. She emphasized that bilateral trade surpassed \$2.2 billion USD in 2024, highlighting the growing economic interdependence between the two countries. “We are following a roadmap to make the dream of the Liberator, Simón Bolívar—a united and interconnected region—a reality,” she stated.

Rodríguez also stressed that the agreement reflects the full productive and export capacities of both nations, aiming for balanced and sustainable development. The zone is expected to support small and medium-sized enterprises, cross-border commerce, and infrastructure projects that link communities on both sides of the border.

Beyond its bilateral scope, the agreement signals broader shifts in Latin America’s approach to regional integration and South-South cooperation. The initiative stands as an example of how countries in the Global South are taking concrete steps toward sovereignty, economic resilience, and collective development outside traditional geopolitical frameworks.

With the establishment of the Binational Peace and Economic Zone, Venezuela and Colombia take a decisive step toward transforming their border into a space of cooperation and shared prosperity. The agreement reflects a renewed vision of Latin American integration rooted in solidarity, peace, and mutual benefit.

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