U.S. Reopens Embassy in Venezuela After Military Operation

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The United States has formally reopened its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, after the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country following the Trump administration's ouster of then-President Nicolas Maduro in early January. A small team of U.S. diplomats, based in neighboring Colombia, has been working in Caracas for more than a month and hosted a flag-raising ceremony on March 14, but the embassy itself had not yet been reopened until Monday.

Why it matters

The reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela marks a significant shift in diplomatic relations between the two countries after years of tension and the Trump administration's efforts to remove Maduro from power. It signals a new phase in U.S. engagement with Venezuela's interim government and civil society.

The details

The State Department announced that it had resumed normal operations at the embassy in Caracas, which had been closed for seven years due to the deterioration of relations under the Trump administration. Work to restore the consular section of the embassy, where Americans and Venezuelans must go for passport and visa services, is not yet complete, and those seeking assistance still need to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.

• The embassy had been closed for seven years, since the beginning of the Trump administration.
• A small team of U.S. diplomats has been working in Caracas for more than a month.
• The flag-raising ceremony at the embassy was held on March 14, 2026.

What’s next

The State Department said that work to restore the consular section of the embassy, where Americans and Venezuelans must go for passport and visa services, is not yet complete, and those seeking assistance still need to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.