The ambassador strongly condemned recent US escalations, including illegal sanctions and the deployment of advanced military assets, describing them as violations of international law and the 1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco, which designates Latin America as a Zone of Peace.
He stressed that Venezuela’s strategy remains anchored in dialogue, sovereignty, and self-determination, while firmly rejecting external pressure and neo-colonial interference.
Ahram Online (AO): How would you describe the current political and diplomatic relationship between Venezuela and Egypt?
Wilmer Barrientos (WB): Our relationship spans seven decades, beginning on 15 November 1950. Despite the geographical distance, we have built productive ties founded on friendship, respect, and cooperation, grounded in the principles of international law and the UN Charter, particularly sovereign equality and non-interference.
The Bolivarian Revolution teaches that for the peoples of the Global South, our “North” is the South itself—away from the historical plunder, colonialism, and neo-colonialism of the traditional North. The principles underpinning our relationship with Egypt align closely: both nations advocate for the rights of the Third World and the establishment of a new international order.
This is reflected in Egypt’s membership of BRICS and Venezuela’s aspiration to join. Our South–South cooperation is based on solidarity, mutual respect, and horizontality, emphasizing non-interference, mutual benefit, and national ownership free from political conditionality. As emerging countries, we share an identity and a common destiny, working to revitalize South–South cooperation and uphold the aspirations of the Global South.
AO: What high-level visits or consultation mechanisms are upcoming, such as the Intergovernmental Joint Commission?
WB: A major boost came from President Nicolás Maduro’s visit to Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh for COP-27. It was followed by high-level visits by our Foreign Minister, a delegation from our national oil company PDVSA, and our Minister of Culture.
From the Egyptian side, we hosted officials from the Egyptian Electoral Authority and the Minister of Culture at the Caracas Book Fair, where Egypt was the Guest of Honour in June 2025.
Preparations are underway for the Intergovernmental Joint Commission, a crucial platform to expand cooperation. Venezuela will host the Second Joint Commission, which we aim to convene in 2026—an important step towards arranging an official visit by President Maduro to Cairo.
AO: Could you elaborate on the common positions shared by Venezuela and Egypt in multilateral forums such as the UN or the Non-Aligned Movement?
WB: We consistently maintain and expand shared positions in defence of international legality and the strict observance of international law to strengthen multilateralism. This shared vision enables close coordination to consolidate and revitalize the Non-Aligned Movement and advance South–South cooperation.
Recent examples include our joint contributions to rapprochement efforts between Africa and South America through the ASA mechanism, and between the Arab world and South America under the ASPA framework.
AO: What is the status of Venezuela’s application to BRICS, and how would membership support multipolarity and de-dollarization?
WB: President Maduro recognizes that BRICS, including Egypt, is laying the foundations of a truly free, inclusive, and just new world system in which international law is restored. This emerging multipolar order is already a reality, and BRICS plays a central role in global geopolitical dynamics, setting a new paradigm for the 21st century.
Venezuela applied for BRICS membership in 2015 and reaffirmed its application in 2023. We contribute the world’s largest certified oil reserves, significant mineral wealth—over 20 percent of global iron, copper, and gold reserves—and a strategic geographical location in South America.
We see BRICS as a powerful force for strengthening a multicentric and multipolar world, which the Global South urgently needs. With over 35 percent of global GDP and nearly half the world’s population, BRICS is poised to drive the democratization of the global economy and the defence of sovereignty.
AO: What is the current scale of trade and investment between Venezuela and Egypt?
WB: Promoting economic and trade exchanges is a top priority. Although bilateral trade remains limited, we are actively working to expand two-way flows and establish a mutually beneficial “win–win” framework.
Current exchanges cover the agricultural, agri-food, minerals, manufactured goods, chemical, and energy sectors. We are determined to harness the complementarities of both economies to increase trade and encourage reciprocal investment.
AO: Given Venezuela’s vast oil and gas resources, is there a strategic plan to engage Egypt as a key energy partner?
WB: Certainly. Venezuela seeks to deepen cooperation between our hydrocarbon sectors. Our energy relationship rests on shared interests, particularly in exchanging expertise on gas projects and utilizing Egypt’s leadership in this field.
Cooperation has strengthened under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2004. We are working to renew this agreement and facilitate the return of Egyptian companies to Venezuela. Investors and companies have expressed strong interest in providing services and pursuing opportunities in the Venezuelan energy sector, especially in gas.
AO: How does Venezuela view the future reconstruction and political stabilization of Gaza, and what role do you see for Venezuela, Egypt, and the international community?
WB: Venezuela maintains its unwavering support for Palestine and its legitimate right to a free, independent, and sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with UN resolutions. President Maduro has described the violence as “genocide” and “the greatest crime of contemporary history,” warning that what is unfolding is a systematic plan to destroy a people.
We recognize Egypt’s pivotal role not only in reconstruction efforts but in all matters related to Palestine. Following the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, we emphasized the importance of global mobilization and diplomatic pressure.
Egypt will continue to exercise its historic leadership through its widely recognized diplomacy and profound humanity, working for peace on multiple fronts.
AO: What concrete steps are being taken to significantly enhance tourism and people-to-people exchange?
WB: Venezuela is a multi-destination country blessed with rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage—from the Caribbean’s longest coastline in South America to the Andes mountains and historic sites such as Caracas, the birthplace of Simón Bolívar.
To boost tourism, we aim to strengthen air connectivity, establishing routes capable of serving as a regional hub linking Latin America. Both sides are organizing the Egypt–Venezuela Tourism Forum 2026 (EVT 26) in Cairo, which will reaffirm our commitment to deeper engagement, capitalizing on Egypt’s strong tourism sector and Venezuela’s vast potential.
Culturally, we are guided by the 1981 Cultural Cooperation Agreement. We are implementing executive programmes for exchanging expertise in the preservation and restoration of tangible and intangible heritage, as well as recent archaeological discoveries.
AO: How do you respond to recent tensions with the US government, and what is Venezuela’s approach to de-escalation?
WB: Venezuela has forcefully rejected the recent and dangerous escalation of the US Government’s policy of hostility. These actions—beginning with illegal sanctions and smear campaigns—have reached an unprecedented level with the deployment of US military forces in the Caribbean.
Of particular concern is the deployment of destroyers, missile cruisers, and a fast-attack nuclear submarine—a historic first for the region. This openly violates the 1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco, which established the denuclearization of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the UN Charter principles of non-use of force and non-intervention, and the 2014 CELAC Proclamation declaring the region a Zone of Peace.
Venezuela remains committed to international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We reaffirm our Bolivarian vocation for peace, self-determination, and the defence of our sovereignty.
The aggression, grounded in fabricated accusations—given that Venezuela possesses no nuclear weapons—targets a peaceful country. Relations with the United States must be based on mutual respect and strict adherence to international law. Venezuela will never submit to any external power.
AO: Has there been any recent movement toward restoring full diplomatic relations or arranging high-level talks between President Maduro and the current US administration?
WB: President Maduro has emphasized the importance of international statements supporting diplomacy and peaceful dialogue. He expressed gratitude for Pope Leo XIV’s call for renewed dialogue and welcomed President Lula da Silva’s firm position that South America is a “Zone of Peace” and that Venezuela’s issues “must be resolved politically”.
At the IV CELAC–EU Summit, President Maduro reiterated that CELAC members are duty-bound to preserve regional peace and demand the immediate end of military threats.
We are also grateful for the efforts of Russia and China in denouncing interventionism and seeking de-escalation. Venezuela firmly believes that the unity of Our America is essential to our freedom and dignity.
We will not accept orders, threats, or interference from any foreign power outside our constitutional and institutional framework.
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