The presidents of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela met in Rome on October 12, 2026, to discuss the possibility of direct purchases of liquefied petroleum gas and AC30 road asphalt. Dominican President Luis Abinader and Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez instructed the state-owned companies Refidomsa and PDVSA to explore these transactions during their meeting at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s headquarters, held on the sidelines of the World Food Forum.
Negotiations between state-owned companies
The Dominican Republic currently imports its fuel needs, but specific details regarding the volumes, prices, terms, or timeframes for the potential purchases were not disclosed. Additionally, the two leaders did not release a joint statement or sign any agreements following their discussions.
Abinader also announced the opening of a Dominican consulate in Venezuela, designed to serve citizens of both countries. Rodríguez indicated that Venezuela would soon appoint a consul to its mission in Santo Domingo.
This meeting reflects a gradual normalization of relations between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela after previous tensions following Venezuela’s presidential election in July 2024. However, it is important to note that any transactions involving Venezuelan oil are subject to U.S. sanctions and regulations from the U.S. Treasury Department.
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 46, which permits certain transactions involving Venezuelan oil. Furthermore, on April 1, 2026, Rodríguez was removed from the U.S. sanctions list, signaling a potential easing of restrictions.
