US Considers Gradual Reopening of Embassy in Venezuela After Maduro’s Ouster

The United States is taking its first concrete steps toward a possible reopening of its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, following years of frozen diplomatic relations and the recent military operation that removed former president Nicolás Maduro from power. According to official notifications sent to congress, the Trump administration is exploring a phased and cautious return of US diplomatic personnel to the country.

The US State Department has informed lawmakers that it intends to send a regular and progressively expanding group of employees to Venezuela to carry out limited and essential functions. The notification, delivered on Monday to ten House and Senate committees, was first reported by the Associated Press and represents a significant policy signal from Washington.

In identical letters addressed to congressional committees, the department stated: “We are writing to notify the committee of the Department of State’s intent to implement a phased approach to potentially resume Embassy Caracas operations.” While no firm timeline has been announced, the language indicates serious consideration of restoring a diplomatic presence after nearly six years.

The First Official Signal to Congress

The US Embassy in Caracas has remained closed since March 2019, when diplomatic ties were severed amid escalating tensions between Washington and Maduro’s government. This congressional notification marks the first formal acknowledgment that the administration is preparing for a potential reopening of the mission.

The timing of the move is also politically significant. It comes just days before Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Venezuela policy is expected to face renewed scrutiny from lawmakers amid shifting regional dynamics.

According to the State Department, the initial group of US personnel would not immediately return to the long-shuttered embassy compound. Instead, they would live and work from a temporary facility while the main embassy complex undergoes evaluations and upgrades to meet current operational and security requirements.

A Phased Return to Caracas

US officials have described the strategy as intentionally incremental. Shortly after the January 3 military operation that led to Maduro’s removal, a small assessment team from the Venezuela Affairs Unit—currently based at the US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia—traveled to Caracas to evaluate on-the-ground conditions and determine the feasibility of reestablishing a permanent mission.

Last week, the State Department appointed a career diplomat from Bogotá as chargé d’affaires for Venezuela, another key step signaling readiness for expanded engagement. Under the current phase, the number of temporary-duty personnel in Caracas would increase, with a focus on administrative, logistical, and security functions.

“To support increased temporary duty personnel and the potential resumption of embassy operations, the Department of State may also need to open an interim or temporary facility in Caracas,” the notification explained, noting that this would allow operations to continue while existing embassy infrastructure is restored.

Over time, officials said the scope of work could expand to include consular services, political and economic reporting, management, security coordination, and public diplomacy. Eventually, the Venezuela Affairs Unit would relocate from Colombia back to Caracas, restoring a full diplomatic footprint.

Despite these developments, the administration has emphasized that its approach to reengaging with Venezuela’s new leadership—headed by acting president Delcy Rodríguez—remains measured. Full normalization of diplomatic relations would require Washington to formally end its recognition of Venezuela’s Parliament as the country’s legitimate governing authority, a step that carries significant political and legal implications.

For now, US officials stress that the embassy reopening plan is conditional, gradual, and security-driven, with further decisions dependent on conditions on the ground and congressional oversight.