The United States officially reopened its embassy in Caracas on Monday, reopening a diplomatic presence in Venezuela for the first time since 2019 as the Trump administration moves forward with its broader country agenda.
“Today, we are officially resuming operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, marking a new chapter in our presence in Venezuela,” the State Department announced Monday.
“The reopening of the US Embassy in Caracas is a milestone in the implementation of the president’s three-phase plan for Venezuela and will strengthen our ability to communicate directly with the Venezuelan interim government, civil society and the private sector.”
The reopening follows the January arrival of US Ambassador Laura F. Dogu in Caracas as charge d’affaires.
“Ambassador Dogu’s team is restoring the building of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas to prepare for the immediate return of full staff and the resumption of consular services,” the State Department said.
Officials have not given a timeline for when public services will fully resume.
The move comes as acting President Delcy Rodríguez consolidates power following the January kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro during a US raid. Rodríguez was praised by Trump for steps to open Venezuela’s oil industry to US investment, while announcing an amnesty for prisoners that human rights groups say remains too limited.
“We’ve done very well with Venezuela,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday. “Venezuela is doing better right now than ever in their country’s history, and it’s like a joint venture, but the United States has made more money.”
As of March 2019, during the first Trump administration, US relations were managed through the Venezuelan Affairs Division based at the US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.
“I met with a group of US investors and companies in Caracas to learn first-hand about the great opportunities that Venezuela offers and to be part of the country’s economic transformation,” Dogu wrote in an X post translated from Spanish.
“The private sector of the United States will play an important role in building a stable and prosperous Venezuela, and we are here to support the growth of US investment.”
Dogu led an American delegation to Venezuela in early March, accompanied by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and “high-ranking” White House, State Department and Treasury officials, he wrote in X.
“By establishing a formal mining sector and securing critical supply channels, we can eliminate illegal actors, create jobs, and advance @POTUS’ three-pronged plan that benefits both countries,” the post added.
