Washington sends first diplomatic delegation to Venezuela since Maduro ouster

A delegation from the US State Department traveled to Caracas on January 9, marking the first official visit to Venezuela since the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro a US government official confirmed.

The trip underscores Washington’s intent to re‑establish a diplomatic presence in a country where ties were severed amid years of political strife, CNN reports.

The delegation, which included diplomatic and security personnel from the Venezuela Affairs Unit — currently based in Colombia — and acting US Ambassador to Colombia John McNamara, flew to the Venezuelan capital “to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations” at the US embassy in Caracas, the official said.

The United States withdrew its diplomats and suspended operations at the Caracas embassy in 2019 amid escalating political tensions, and since then diplomatic affairs have been managed through a team based at the US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.

A senior State Department official told reporters earlier in the week that Washington is “making preparations to allow for a reopening” of the embassy “should the president make that decision.”

While discussions have taken place about potential meetings between US diplomats and members of Venezuela’s interim political leadership, those talks are not expected during this initial visit, according to the official.

Former diplomats have suggested that the absence of a US presence on the ground could complicate efforts to support reconstruction and ensure accountability in Venezuela, where political and economic instability has persisted for years. Donald Trump, who has advocated for renewed US involvement in the country’s affairs, has said he wants to see American oil companies resume operations in Venezuela and contribute to its rebuilding — comments that align with broader debates over US policy in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva