US Embassy Reopens in Venezuela Amid Trumps Push for Access

US Reopens Embassy in Caracas After Seven-Year Hiatus

The United States has reopened its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital city, after a seven-year closure. The move marks a significant development in US-Venezuela relations, with President Donald Trump’s administration seeking to deepen ties with the new government.

According to Charge d’Affaires Laura Dogu, the flag over the embassy was raised on March 14, 2026, at the same time it was lowered seven years ago. The ceremony signals the resumption of diplomatic activities in Venezuela.

The US had previously launched a military operation on January 3, resulting in the abduction of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Since then, Delcy Rodriguez has taken over as interim president with Trump’s approval.

The Trump administration has pressed Rodriguez’s government for concessions, including access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and other natural resources. In response, Rodriguez has championed laws to open the country’s nationalized oil and mining sectors to foreign investment.

As part of this effort, approximately 80 million barrels of oil have been transferred into US hands, which have then been sold by the Trump administration. The US has also continued to exert control over Venezuela’s oil sales, blocking its fuel trade with Cuba and depositing proceeds from US-led oil sales in a US-controlled bank account.

The move has sparked debate among experts, who point out that international law guarantees each country’s permanent sovereignty over its own natural resources. Critics have raised concerns about the Trump administration’s statements on controlling Venezuela’s resources “indefinitely”.

Source: Al Jazeera