BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos has invited Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to attend his inauguration in August, local media reported yesterday, in a possible sign of warming ties between the neighbors.

Strained relations with Andean neighbours — including a spat with Ecuador over a 2008 raid on leftist rebels, and frayed ties with Venezuela that have hurt trade — are the top foreign policy challenges facing Santos, who takes over from incumbent leader Alvaro Uribe in August.

“I’m very pleased with the statements of President Chavez. I hope he can also attend,” Santos was quoted as saying from London in Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper.

Santos was responding to a statement by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa that he would attend if invited.

Caracas and Bogota have sparred over a plan to allow Washington more access to Colombian bases to help combat drug runners and leftist guerrillas.

The socialist Venezuelan leader said last week he would shake Santos’ hand, but also asked the former Colombian defence minister to respect Caracas. Chavez has also called on Santos to end US access to Colombian bases.