The United States has officially resumed operations at its embassy in Caracas, marking the end of a seven-year suspension in Venezuela. The State Department announced the reopening on Monday, March 30—describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in relations with the South American country.
In a statement, officials said restoring the embassy functions would strengthen Washington’s ability to engage directly with Venezuela’s interim government, as well as civil society and the private sector.
The U.S. embassy was closed in March 2019, shortly after Washington along with a number of Western and Latin American allies declared the socialist leader Nicolás Maduro to be illegitimate following an election marred by widespread irregularities.
In January, President Donald Trump ordered an operation that resulted in Maduro being taken to the United States to face drug trafficking charges, which he denies. Washington has since worked with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, previously Maduro’s vice president.
Veteran diplomat Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas earlier this year to lead the mission, with the U.S. flag raised again over the embassy on March 14.
