Israeli FM Sa'ar meets Venezuelan opposition leader in Washington amid push to restore diplomatic ties

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Prize laureate Maria Machado in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

"María Corina Machado is a courageous woman, and her struggle is a source of inspiration to many in Venezuela and beyond. We discussed developments in Venezuela since the historic US Operation 'Absolute Resolve,' led by President Trump," Sa'ar stated after the meeting. 

"I wish the people of Venezuela that they may soon be able to choose their leadership in free elections, after the long years of repression under Maduro and Chávez," Israel’s top diplomat added.

Sa’ar participated in a conference of dozens of countries, initiated by the United States and led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which focused on "the strategic issue of critical minerals and supply chains," according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.

Glad to meet with Nobel Peace Prize laureate @MariaCorinaYa. María Corina Machado is a courageous woman, and her struggle is a source of inspiration to many in Venezuela and beyond. We discussed developments in Venezuela since the historic U.S. Operation "Absolute Resolve", led… pic.twitter.com/94r598CJ4u

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) February 3, 2026

Venezuela and Israel do not have official diplomatic relations due to the current Venezuelan regime’s hostility towards the Jewish state and close ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Venezuela severed its ties with Israel in 2009 following the Operation Cast Lead military offensive against the terrorist militia Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The late far-left Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez also unilaterally recognized the “State of Palestine.” 

However, the Venezuelan opposition leader articulated hope that past bilateral relations between the two countries could be restored in the future. 

"Israel and Venezuela have historically shared very close ties, which we will reclaim and strengthen in this new era of democracy and freedom," Machado vowed. She thanked the Israeli foreign minister for the opportunity to discuss relations between the two countries. 

"Dear Minister Sa’ar, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to engage in an extensive conversation about the challenges and opportunities we face in a process that is already moving Venezuela toward democracy," Machado said. 

"Our country will be a reliable and stable partner for the world’s democracies and will offer major opportunities for investment and exchange. Venezuela’s reintegration into the democratic world will also allow us to build global alliances in the face of those who threaten our security," she added.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro upheld the regime’s hostility toward Israel and maintained close ties with Iran’s ayatollah regime. Last month, U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a commando raid inside Venezuela and brought them to the United States to face trial. Maduro is facing narco-terrorism charges. At the time, Sa’ar praised the U.S. military intervention.

“Israel commends the United States’ operation, led by President Trump, which acted as the leader of the free world,” the Israeli foreign minister wrote on 𝕏. He also articulated Jerusalem’s hope that relations could be restored between Israel and Venezuela. 

“Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror, and hopes for the return of democracy to the country and for friendly relations between the states.”

The opposition leader Machado has been calling for a transition to democracy in the post-Maduro era. Earlier this week, she urged students to protest in the streets of the Venezuelan capital Caracas against the regime, which is currently led by Maduro’s deputy Delcy Eloína Rodríguez.

"Today, the country decided to be free. This was unthinkable 30 days ago," Machado wrote in a post on 𝕏. 

It is unlikely that relations between Venezuela and Israel will be restored under the current Rodríguez-led regime. 

Following the U.S. capture of the Maduro, she claimed that the operation had “Zionist undertones.” 

“The governments of the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has Zionist undertones,” Rodríguez claimed.