U.S. diplomat Laura F. Dogu announced the commencement of operations at the United States Embassy in Caracas, marking the formal return of the diplomatic mission after seven years of closure and the beginning of a transition process driven by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Hello, Venezuela. My name is Laura Dogu. I am very honored to serve as the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States to Venezuela,” the diplomat stated in a video posted by the official account of the U.S. Embassy on X. “I was an ambassador in Honduras and also an ambassador in Nicaragua, and now President Trump and Secretary Rubio have entrusted me with the role of leading our mission here in Caracas. This is a historic moment for both countries.”
Dogu officially presented the U.S. action plan in three phases: stabilization, economic recovery, and democratic transition. "We are going to implement the three-phase plan: first, the stabilization of the country and the restoration of security; second, the recovery of the economy for the benefit of all Venezuelans; and third, the transition to a friendly, stable, prosperous, and democratic Venezuela," he explained.
During her address, the chargé d'affaires emphasized that "the announcement of the reopening of airspace and the general license issued a few days ago are key steps to strengthen economic recovery." She added that "President Trump has made decisions, and now we are implementing them," assuring that the U.S. presence in Caracas "marks a new chapter" in the bilateral relationship.
Hours before the video was published, the embassy reported that Dogu had a meeting with interim president Delcy Rodríguez and the president of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez. In a message released by the diplomatic mission, it was stated: “Today I met with Delcy Rodríguez and Jorge Rodríguez to reiterate the three phases that @SecRubio has proposed regarding Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery, and reconciliation, and transition.”
The meeting took place at the Miraflores Palace amid the resumption of bilateral contacts following the detention of Nicolás Maduro in early January. According to the Department of State, the diplomatic initiative is part of a gradual strategy to restore consular functions and institutional cooperation while assessing the security conditions in the Venezuelan capital.
Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas on January 31 to take charge of the diplomatic mission, after serving as head of the Venezuela Affairs Unit based in Bogotá. Her appointment is part of a broader institutional normalization process driven by Washington within the context of the new political phase that Venezuela is experiencing.
The three-phase plan proposed by Marco Rubio in the Senate aims to progress towards stabilizing the country, economic recovery, and democratic transition. Dogu herself recalled these stages during her meeting with Venezuelan authorities, emphasizing Washington's willingness to support the national reconstruction process.
The meeting between Rodríguez and Dogu represents one of the most significant diplomatic contacts between Caracas and Washington in nearly a decade. At the same time, the U.S. administration has been in discussions with various Venezuelan political and social sectors, including opposition figures.
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