The Donald Trump administrationannounced that it managed to resume its activities in Caracas through its diplomatic headquarters within Venezuela. In 2019, the closure of the CEDE occurred, amid the rupture of bilateral relations during the Nicolás Maduro regime, which forced Washington to transfer its operations to Bogotá through an external office until January 2026, where
it reopened.
The return of diplomatic activity was not immediate, but it developed gradually. In January of this year, diplomat Laura F. Dogu arrived in Caracas as chargé d'affaires with the objective of coordinating the reopening. His team worked on the rehabilitation of the building, the reorganization of the staff and the recovery of basic functions of the diplomatic mission
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The reopening is part of a broader process of re-establishing relations between the two countries, after years of political tensions, sanctions and international questioning. In recent weeks, there had been progress in bilateral dialogue, which allowed the official US presence in the Venezuelan capital to be unlocked
. U.S. Diplomatic Headquarters in Caracas
The State Department noted that the resumption of activities represents a “new chapter” in the relationship, aimed at strengthening direct contact with institutional actors, the private sector and civil society. The physical presence in Caracas also allows a closer monitoring of the country's political and economic situation
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The process included symbolic gestures, such as the raising of the American flag at the diplomatic headquarters, a fact that had not occurred since the closure in 2019. These types of signals reinforce the idea of a different stage in bilateral dynamics, marked by a more pragmatic approach
. In charge of continuing diplomatic relations in Venezuela by the United States Laura F. Dogu
However, normalization is still partial. Although the embassy has already resumed operational functions, key services such as the issuance of visas have not yet been fully restored and are still under evaluation, depending on security and logistics conditions
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In political terms, the reopening reflects a change in President Donald Trump's strategy of international engagement with Venezuela, with a greater emphasis on direct diplomacy. Beyond its immediate scope, the reestablishment of the embassy introduces a new element to the regional scene, where institutional interaction returns to occupy a central place after years of
