Japan–Venezuela relations

Japan–Venezuela relations (Spanish: Relaciones Japón-Venezuela, Japanese: 日本とベネズエラの関係) are foreign relations between Japan and Venezuela. Formal diplomatic relations between the countries were established in August 1938.^[1] Venezuela broke off diplomatic ties with Japan (and the other Axis Powers) in December 1941, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.^[2]

In 1999, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a three-day trip to Japan.

Japanese banks Marubeni and Mitsui loaned Venezuela $3.5 billion in 2007 to be repaid in oil. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation provided $1.89 billion in loans to support the banks.

Japan imported US$1 bn worth of goods from Venezuela in 2008, mainly aluminium, iron ore and cacao.^[3]

Hugo Chavez made another two-day trip in 2009, during which he met Prime Minister Taro Aso. During the trip they agreed to cooperate on oil and gas developments and form a committee to study financing development and exploration. Japan and Venezuela signed a dozen other accords as part of Chavez's visit.^[4]

On 23 December 2009, Chavez threatened to expropriate Toyota Motor Corp.'s local assembly plant.^[5]

In February 2019, Japan recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelan president, cutting off relations with the disputed government of left-wing Nicolás Maduro, the successor of late Hugo Chavez.^[6]