The American flag once again graced the skies above the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela on Saturday. This marks the first time in seven years that the stars and stripes have flown in the South American nation.
The embassy site in Caracas is currently under renovation, and while no official reopening date has been announced, The Associated Press has noted the ongoing work.
This symbolic gesture follows the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January, setting the stage for renewed diplomatic ties.
The flag’s return to Caracas signifies a pivotal moment, underscoring a shift in relations that had been severed in 2019 when diplomatic ties between Washington and Caracas were formally cut. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
The U.S. Embassy marked the occasion with a social media announcement, heralding it as the beginning of a fresh chapter in the relationship between the two countries.
“A new era for U.S.-Venezuela relations has begun,” read the statement from the U.S. Embassy on platform X.
Some residents expressed hope that the flag signals improved ties with the international community.
Caracas resident Alessandro Di Benedetto said the atmosphere among onlookers was optimistic, according to The Associated Press.
The entrance sign of the U.S. Embassy is seen in Caracas, Venezuela. (Associated Press)
“I found several people here surprised and happy because today they raised the U.S. flag at the embassy,” he said. “This is positive; this is another step.”
The embassy had been closed since March 12, 2019, when the U.S. and Venezuela cut diplomatic relations, according to the website for the U.S. Department of State.
Maduro was captured during a U.S. military operation in Caracas on Jan. 3 and flown to New York, where he is currently being held in a federal jail.
Nicolás Maduro is seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026 in New York City. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images)
He faces multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess those weapons.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, is also facing federal charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
Both pleaded not guilty during a federal court appearance in New York on Jan. 5.
