The United States has officially reopened its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, as of Monday, marking a significant return of American diplomatic presence in the country for the first time since 2019. This move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration aimed at addressing the situation in Venezuela.

The State Department declared on Monday, “Today, we are formally resuming operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, marking a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela.”

This reopening is considered a crucial step in executing the president’s three-phase strategy for Venezuela. It is anticipated to enhance the United States’ ability to connect directly with Venezuela’s interim government, as well as with civil society and the private sector.

The embassy’s reopening follows the arrival of U.S. Ambassador Laura F. Dogu in January to serve as the chargé d’affaires in Caracas.

“Ambassador Dogu and her team are currently working on refurbishing the chancery building at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas to facilitate the complete return of staff as soon as possible and to eventually resume consular services,” the State Department noted.

While the embassy is resuming operations, officials have not yet provided a specific timeline for when public services will be fully operational again.

The move comes as acting President Delcy Rodríguez consolidates power following the January capture of Nicolás Maduro in a US raid. Rodríguez has been praised by Trump for measures opening Venezuela’s oil industry to US investment, while also announcing a prisoner amnesty that human rights groups say remains too limited.

“We’ve done very well working with Venezuela,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday. “Venezuela is doing better right now than they’ve ever done in the history of their country, and sort of like a joint venture, but the United States has made a lot of money.”

Since March 2019, during the first Trump administration, US relations had been handled through the Venezuela Affairs Unit based at the US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.

“I met with a delegation of US investors and companies who are in Caracas to learn firsthand about the great opportunities that Venezuela offers and to be part of the country’s economic transformation,” Dogu wrote in an X post translated from Spanish.

“The private sector of the United States will play a fundamental role in building a stable and prosperous Venezuela, and we are here to support the growth of US investment.”

Dogu led a US delegation in Venezuela earlier in March, accompanied by Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum and “high-level” White House, State Department and Treasury officials, she wrote on X.

“By establishing a legitimate mining sector and securing critical supply chains, we can displace illegal actors, create jobs, and advance the three-phase plan of @POTUS that benefits both nations,” the post added.