The United States and Venezuela have agreed to renew diplomatic and consular ties, the State Department announced on Thursday, following the U.S. military’s deposition of Nicolas Maduro in January.
The department said the move reflects a commitment to promoting stability, supporting economic recovery, and advancing free and fair elections in the South American nation.
“Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government,” a media note from the State Department reads.
“The United States remains committed to supporting the Venezuelan people and working with partners across the region to advance stability and prosperity.”
The shift is notable, given that Venezuela under Maduro was immensely hostile toward the U.S.
Senior Trump administration officials have visited Venezuela in the two months since the former Venezuelan dictator was captured and replaced by his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, who is the country’s acting president for the time being.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with Rodriguez in Caracas this week to discuss expanding U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil and mineral resources. Following the two-day trip, Burgum said Rodriguez agreed to give security assurances to foreign mining companies seeking to invest in Venezuelan resources.
Burgum’s visit was preceded by one from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who met with the interim president in January shortly after Maduro’s capture. During the meeting, Ratcliffe reportedly proposed opportunities for economic collaboration and conveyed the message that Venezuela can no longer protect narco-terrorists under the country’s new leadership.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not personally traveled to Venezuela himself recently, but he is actively managing U.S. policy in the region during the Venezuelan government’s transition.
The timing of an election for a possible successor to Rodriguez is unclear, but Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said this week she would return to her native country soon. She did not provide a date for her return but promised she would prepare for a “new and gigantic electoral victory.”
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Machado has sought U.S. support as she plans to run for Venezuelan president in a future election. However, the Trump administration has expressed doubts about her leadership capabilities.
Despite this, Machado tried to curry favor with President Donald Trump when she presented him with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize as a sign of goodwill for bringing about change in her country. Trump accepted the award, even though the Norwegian Nobel Committee still recognizes Machado as the official winner.
