PANAMA CITY (AP) - Panama and Venezuela are set to resume commercial flights after nearly a year-long suspension stemming from the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The announcement was made by Panama's Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday.

The diplomatic rift began last July when Venezuela withdrew its diplomatic representation from Panama following Panama's President José Raúl Mulino's refusal to recognize Nicolás Maduro's reelection. This decision sparked a series of tensions leading to the suspension of flights.

During a weekly news briefing earlier on Thursday, President Mulino indicated that he had received a letter from the Venezuelan government but had not yet read it. He expressed that it would be beneficial for Panama to resume flights. However, he emphasized the importance of Venezuela agreeing to accept the deportation of Venezuelan migrants from Panama, a significant point in the ongoing negotiations.

Some commercial airlines have already begun promoting flights between Panama and Venezuela. Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines confirmed that flights would be reinstated, stating that their team was actively working to finalize the itineraries. Additionally, Venezuelan carrier Venezolana Airlines has advertised a flight set to commence on Friday.

This development comes shortly after Venezuela implemented a ban on flights arriving from Colombia. The Venezuelan government announced this ban after apprehending over 30 individuals allegedly involved in plotting activities aimed at destabilizing the country ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for Sunday.

Last July marked a pivotal moment as Panama took one of the first stances among Latin American nations by calling for a comprehensive review of the presidential electoral results in Venezuela, following the declaration by the Venezuelan electoral authority that Maduro had won the election.