Relationship dossier
Paraguay
Venezuela
Relationship assessment
Political disputes and diplomatic ruptures have strained Paraguay–Venezuela relations, despite a restoration of ties in 2023.
Paraguay toward Venezuela
-40Paraguay recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president in 2019 and severed diplomatic relations with Nicolás Maduro’s government. Paraguay restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 2023, but its subsequent stance on Venezuela’s political leadership has remained a source of friction.
Venezuela toward Paraguay
-40Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Paraguay in 2012 after Paraguay’s political crisis and objected to Paraguay’s regional positions. Diplomatic relations were restored in 2023, though political disagreements have continued to strain ties.
Overall relationship
-35The relationship has experienced repeated diplomatic ruptures linked to disputes over political legitimacy and regional policy. Restoration of diplomatic relations in 2023 provides a basis for engagement, but the recurring disputes remain a prominent feature of the bilateral relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations have been marked by recurring political confrontation, especially over Venezuela’s government and its democratic legitimacy. Paraguay recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president in 2019 and severed diplomatic relations with Nicolás Maduro’s government. Venezuela had previously broken relations with Paraguay after Paraguay’s 2012 political crisis and opposed Paraguay’s subsequent regional positions. The two countries restored diplomatic relations in 2023, but their subsequent political disagreements have kept the relationship strained.
Areas of tension
- Paraguay’s recognition of Juan Guaidó and severance of relations with Nicolás Maduro’s government in 2019.
- Venezuela’s 2012 break in diplomatic relations with Paraguay following Paraguay’s political crisis.
- Disagreement over the political leadership and legitimacy of Venezuela’s government.
Key developments
Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Paraguay following Paraguay’s political crisis.
Paraguay recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president and severed relations with Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Paraguay and Venezuela restored diplomatic relations.
Major uncertainties
- The practical scope and durability of the 2023 restoration of diplomatic relations are unclear.
- The extent of current bilateral cooperation beyond diplomatic engagement is unclear.