On Sept. 23, 2026, President Santiago Pena used his UNGA address to urge Mercosur members – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – to restore Venezuela’s membership, arguing that the bloc would benefit from the country’s reintegration.
Pena stressed that any return must be tied to a genuine, lasting democratic transition, saying, “We want a transition with strong institutions, security, a thriving economy, and a nation once again integrated into the international community, and specifically, integrated into Mercosur.”
He highlighted that he had recently visited Caracas, reopening diplomatic dialogue after years of severed relations, and noted that Chile’s President José Antonio Kast, an associate member of Mercosur, is scheduled to meet Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez on the Assembly’s sidelines.
Mercosur suspended Venezuela in 2017 for non‑compliance with bloc regulations and hardened its stance after the arrest of opposition leaders under former President Nicolás Maduro; the bloc’s charter provides for suspension but not expulsion.
Pena’s appeal adds pressure to a regional debate over Venezuela’s political future and the economic implications of its potential return, which could reshape trade flows across South America.