US ambassador arrives in Venezuela to reopen diplomatic mission after 7 years

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Associated Press

Associated Press

Published: January 31, 2026 astatine 5:35 PM


Venezuela Anniversary Government supporters transportation a cutout of erstwhile President Nicolás Maduro and his woman Cilia Flores during a rally marking the day of the 1958 coup that overthrew Venezuelan dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, successful Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

CARACAS (AP) — U.S. Ambassador Laura Dogu arrived successful Caracas connected Saturday to reopen the American diplomatic ngo successful Venezuela aft 7 years of severed ties.

The determination comes astir 1 period aft a subject enactment ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump removed the South American country's then-leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

“My squad and I are acceptable to work,” Dogu said successful a connection posted by the U.S. Embassy successful Venezuela 's relationship connected X. It besides posted pictures of her upon her landing astatine Maiquetia airport.

Venezuela and the United States broke disconnected diplomatic relations successful February 2019 successful a determination by Maduro and closed their embassies mutually aft Trump gave nationalist enactment to lawmaker Juan Guaidó successful his assertion to beryllium the nation’s interim president successful January of that year.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, 1 of Venezuela's astir almighty politicians and a Maduro loyalist, said earlier successful January that reopening the U.S. embassy would springiness the Venezuelan authorities a mode to oversee the attraction of the deposed president, who is jailed successful the U.S.

Venezuela's overseas curate Yván Gil said successful a connection connected Telegram that Dogu's accomplishment is portion of a associated docket to “deal with and resoluteness existing differences done diplomatic dialogue, successful a instauration of communal respect and (based on) planetary law.”

Dogu, who was besides an ambassador successful Nicaragua and Honduras, arrived successful Venezuela 1 time aft the country's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced an amnesty measure to merchandise governmental prisoners. That determination was 1 of the cardinal demands of the Venezuelan opposition.

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