The United States and Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, in a major turn of events after the capture of Venezuelan sitting president Maduro by Washington on 3 January, 2026.
This announcement is also a noticeable change in years of strained ties between Washington and Caracas. Officials from both countries confirmed the agreement on Thursday, describing it as a step toward rebuilding communication and cooperation after diplomatic relations collapsed in 2019.
The move will eventually lead to the reopening of embassies and the restoration of consular services for citizens in both countries.
The announcement follows months of diplomatic contacts between the administration of US President Donald Trump and Venezuela’s interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez. Rodríguez assumed power after Nicolás Maduro’s capture; an event that dramatically reshaped the country’s political landscape.
According to a statement from the US State Department, the agreement “will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela.”
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“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,” it read.
The US embassy in Caracas has been closed since 2019 amid escalating political tensions and sanctions against Venezuela’s government.
Venezuela’s interim authorities have released hundreds of political prisoners and signaled willingness to work with Washington on political reforms and economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, US officials have been conducting visits and technical assessments in Caracas as part of preparations for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Beyond the restoration of diplomatic ties, Venezuela has some of the world’s largest petroleum reserves, and the United States has shown interest in expanding access to Venezuelan oil following years of sanctions and restrictions.
As theories around the capture of Maduro say, the United States in largely interested in the country oil resources, and did not waste much time in formalizing ties with the interim government, who had but little choice after the forceful and illegitimate raid that led to Maduro’s capture.
