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The United States sent a diplomatic and security delegation to Caracas on Friday to assess the potential gradual resumption of operations at its embassy, which has been closed since 2019, marking the first official trip since the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Personnel from the U.S. State Department arrived in the Venezuelan capital on Friday to conduct an initial assessment with a view towards a possible reopening of the American embassy in Caracas, reported outlets such as the news agency Reuters and the television network CNN.
This is the first official visit of this kind since Washington withdrew its diplomatic staff from the country more than six years ago.
According to available information, the team consists of diplomats and security personnel from the Venezuela Affairs Unit - which has been operating from Bogotá since the closure of the office - as well as the acting United States ambassador to Colombia, John McNamara.
The objective of the visit is to assess the conditions for a possible gradual resumption of diplomatic operations.
The United States suspended the activities of its embassy in Caracas in 2019, at the height of the confrontation with the government of Nicolás Maduro.
The visit occurs now in a new political context, marked by the capture of the former Venezuelan president and by statements from President Donald Trump regarding the intention for the United States to "manage" its presence in the country.
A senior official from the State Department previously noted that preparations were being made to allow the reopening of the embassy, provided that the president granted authorization.
Trump also expressed his interest in having American oil companies resume operations in Venezuela and participate in the country's reconstruction, although he has not provided specific details about the diplomatic process.
Former diplomats cited by the broadcaster CNN warned that the prolonged absence of a U.S. presence on the ground has hindered efforts for oversight, institutional reconstruction, and accountability in Venezuela, factors that Washington considers vital in this new phase.
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