U.S. charge d’affaires Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas on Saturday to reopen the American diplomatic mission in Venezuela, restoring formal relations that had been severed for seven years.
Dogu’s arrival at Simón Bolívar International Airport marked the first time U.S. diplomats have returned to the Venezuelan capital since 2019, when relations were cut after then-President Nicolás Maduro rejected U.S. support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
“I just arrived in Venezuela. My team and I are ready to work,” Dogu said in a post on the U.S. Embassy’s X account, alongside photos of her stepping off the plane.
State Department officials appointed Dogu on Jan. 22 as charge d’affaires of the Venezuela Affairs Unit, which had been based in Bogotá and handled diplomatic matters after the closure of the embassy in Caracas.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil said on social media that discussions with U.S. officials would aim to “deal with and resolve existing differences through diplomatic dialogue” guided by mutual respect and international law.
The mission’s reopening comes amid broader shifts in Venezuela’s political landscape following the capture of Maduro in January and the announcement by interim President Delcy Rodríguez of an amnesty bill aimed at freeing political prisoners — a key demand of opposition groups.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a prominent figure in Venezuelan politics, said earlier this month that a U.S. embassy presence could help ensure proper treatment of Maduro, who is jailed in the United States.
The restoration of diplomatic relations may also pave the way for expanded cooperation on issues including consular services, economic engagement and future negotiations on the normalization of ties between the United States and Venezuela.