Venezuela and the US resume their diplomatic and consular relations two months after Maduro’s capture

A movement that confirms the rapid rapprochement between Washington and Caracas after the arrival of Delcy Rodríguez at the Miraflores Palace under the tutelage of the Trump Administration. And a situation that under Maduro’s leadership would have been practically impossible: since 2019, Venezuelan politics had been marked by direct opposition to the US.

“The Bolivarian Government reaffirms its willingness to advance in a new stage of constructive dialoguebased on mutual respect, the sovereign equality of States and cooperation between our peoples,” stated the Executive led by Delcy Rodríguez in a statement released by Foreign Minister Yván Gil on social networks.

The announcement, which was advanced by the State Department, was recorded after the visit to Caracas of the US Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum. And after weeks of pressure on the interim president to cede control of the Venezuelan oil industry, Caracas’ main source of resources, to Washington.

The Venezuelan statement expresses confidence that the process will strengthen understanding and opportunities to achieve “a positive relationship of shared benefit.” “These relationships must result in social and economic happiness of the Venezuelan people,” he added. Until now both countries kept their embassies closed in Washington and Caracas.

Visits to Caracas

After Maduro’s capture on January 3, both countries established a process of diplomatic rapprochement. The Trump Administration reported the establishment of a three phase process -stabilization, recovery and democratic transition- for the future of Venezuela, and the commitment to Delcy Rodríguez to pilot the first of them.

At the end of January, the American diplomat was appointed Laura Dogu as chargé d’affaires in Caracas, while the Venezuelan Felix Plasencia He was appointed days later as diplomatic representative to the United States.

Since then, Rodriguez has hosted several top U.S. officials, including Burgum, Dogu and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The head of the Army’s Southern Command has also visited Venezuela.

Diplomatic ties between the United States and Venezuela had remained broken since early 2019, during Donald Trump’s first term, when Washington recognized the opponent and then head of Parliament, Juan Guaidóas interim president, to which Maduro responded by breaking relations.