Written by Rafael Salido withAP
Release date •updated
Nearly a month after the U.S. military operation that ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the United States has taken another step toward normalizing relations with Caracas. Venezuela’s Chargé d’Affaires Laura Dogu arrived in the South American country on Saturday to reopen U.S. diplomatic missions that have been closed for seven years.
“I just arrived in Venezuela. My team and I are ready,” Dogu confirmed in a message posted on the Caracas US Embassy’s X account, along with an image of him arriving at Maiquetia International Airport. The resumption is a milestone in the gradual restoration of bilateral relations, which were broken in February 2019 after then-President Donald Trump endorsed opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil also suggested through social networks that the arrival of the diplomats was part of a joint agenda “aiming to set a roadmap for work on issues of bilateral interest and to address and resolve existing differences on the basis of mutual respect and international law through diplomatic dialogue.”
The thaw was preceded by a visit by a Trump administration delegation to Caracas on January 9 to assess “technical and logistical” conditions for resuming diplomatic functions. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said at the time that reopening the embassy would “enable consular representation.”
Mr. Dogou’s arrival coincided with the announcement of an amnesty bill for the release of political prisoners introduced by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez. “This is legislation that will help repair the wounds left by political conflict,” she said.
According to the Foro Prison Service, 310 people have been confirmed to have been released, although the government claims to have released more than 600 people. The United States also confirmed the release of “all known U.S. persons held in Venezuela.”