Caracas (TDI): Venezuela said on Saturday that it has begun discussions with the United States aimed at re-establishing diplomatic relations, just days after US forces removed former president Nicolás Maduro from power.
The announcement marks the latest sign of limited engagement between the two countries following Maduro’s capture and President Donald Trump’s assertion that Washington is now effectively steering Venezuela’s political future.
According to Venezuelan officials, US diplomatic personnel have arrived in Caracas to assess the possibility of reopening the American embassy. At the same time, discussions are underway in Washington over access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, with Trump meeting senior executives from major energy companies, according to AFP.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil said the interim government, led by President Delcy Rodríguez, had approved an initial diplomatic process with Washington focused on restoring embassies in both capitals. A US official confirmed that John McNamara, Washington’s top diplomat in Colombia, had travelled to Caracas with a small team to evaluate conditions for a gradual resumption of diplomatic operations.
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Venezuela has said it will send its own delegation to Washington in response. Despite opening talks, Rodríguez strongly condemned the US military operation that led to Maduro’s removal, calling it illegal and criminal. She said Venezuela would continue to confront what she described as aggression through diplomatic channels rather than military means.
Trump said on Friday that he had halted a planned second round of strikes against Venezuela following the release of political prisoners, a move Washington has portrayed as a goodwill gesture.
Read More: Colombia Fears US Military Action After Venezuela Strike
At a White House meeting the same day, Trump urged US oil companies to invest heavily in Venezuela, arguing that the country’s oil sector could be revived under new leadership. While he claimed firms had pledged up to $100 billion, executives expressed caution.
