The U.S. has reopened its embassy in Caracas, restoring full diplomatic operations after years of closure and repair work, the State Department said Monday.
The State Department announced it had resumed normal operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, after the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country following the Trump administration’s ouster of former President Nicolas Maduro.
In its announcement, the department said the embassy had been in need of significant repair, including remediation from mold, after a seven-year closure that began during President Donald Trump’s first term. The reopening comes after U.S. diplomats began working in Caracas while remaining based in neighboring Colombia, as part of the stepped-up effort to re-establish a wider U.S. diplomatic presence in Venezuela.
The department said a small team of U.S. diplomats based in Colombia had been working in Caracas for more than a month. It also said the team hosted a flag-raising ceremony on March 14 before Monday’s formal reopening, signaling the gradual restoration of on-the-ground operations.
In a statement, the State Department called the resumption of operations at U.S. Embassy Caracas “a key milestone in implementing the president’s three phase plan for Venezuela.” The department said the reopening would strengthen the ability to engage directly with Venezuela’s interim government, civil society and the private sector.
The department said the move marked “a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela.” As the embassy reopens, the State Department indicated work to restore additional functions is ongoing, rather than fully complete.
The department said restoration of the consular section of the embassy, where Americans and Venezuelans go for passport and visa services, had not yet finished. It directed those seeking assistance to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bogota while the consular services are still being restored.
MSI previously reported that the Trump administration took early steps to reopen the Venezuela embassy following Maduro’s ouster, as diplomatic ties were being rebuilt in late January.