The US, Venezuela agree to establish diplomatic relations for the first time since 2019

The United States and Venezuela have agreed to restore diplomatic ties in a major shift in the historically adversarial relationship, the State Department said Thursday.

“The interim authorities of the United States and Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations,” the State Department said in a statement. “This step will help our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela.”

The move comes after Trump administration officials have visited the South American country several times US military service who ousted former President Nicolás Maduro in January, the latest by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum this week. The Trump administration he kept increasing the pressure to Maduro loyalists who are now in power to accept their vision of an oil-rich nation.

Relations between the two countries were severed in 2019, during the Trump administration, at Maduro’s decision. They closed their embassies after President Trump publicly endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself the country’s interim president in January 2019. That same month, amid political unrest and violence in Venezuela, the Trump administration ordered all non-essential employees of US embassies and government employees to leave Venezuela.

Since then, the US has operated its consular services in Bogota, Colombia. In January, following Maduro’s capture, the Trump administration informed Congress that it would begin steps to eventually reopen the embassy in Venezuela.

The State Department said in a statement that the talks between the countries “are focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward in a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.”

The announcement was made at the end of Burgum’s two-day visit to Venezuela. This tour focuses on the country’s mining industry. It followed a February visit by Energy Secretary Chris Wright that focused on it Venezuela’s oil potential. Both secretaries aim to boost foreign investment to advance the administration’s phased reform plan for the troubled nation.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was once Maduro’s vice president, said on state television that such measures would “strengthen the relationship between our two countries.”

Rodríguez’s government in a statement later expressed confidence that reviving diplomatic relations “will help strengthen understanding and open opportunities for good and beneficial relations.”

“This relationship should result in the social and economic happiness of the Venezuelan people,” he said.

Since the unprecedented US invasion of Venezuela, the Trump administration has forced the government to make major changes, including opening up its oil sector to foreign companies.

“We told all the companies to meet with them two days ago, if they have problems getting goods or people with visas or entry fees, talk to us because we want to help those who want to come here and do constructive work with high integrity. We want to pave the way for them to come here and start working,” Burgum told reporters on Thursday.

Rodríguez’s government also approved amnesty law that led to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others, acknowledging that the government had imprisoned hundreds of people for political reasons.

Mr. Trump surprised Venezuelans inside and outside their country with his decision to work with Rodríguez, rather than oppose politics, following Maduro’s ouster. On Sunday, Venezuela’s top opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado he said he will return to Venezuela in the coming weeks and that the elections will be held in Venezuela.