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The U.S. Embassy in Caracas published an official statement signed by Laura F. Dogu this Wednesday, announcing the end of her temporary assignment in Venezuela and the arrival of John Barrett as the next Chargé d'Affaires.
The announcement comes just a day after the State Department denied rumors of a change and reaffirmed Dogu in the position, making the statement a surprising confirmation of the diplomatic shift.
"My temporary assignment in Caracas is coming to an end, and I will return to my previous position as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chief of Joint Staff of the United States," Dogu stated in the announcement.
Dogu arrived in Caracas on January 31, 2026 amid a process of diplomatic rapprochement between Washington and Caracas. Shortly after, the U.S. and Venezuela formally agreed to restore diplomatic relations, marking a historical milestone in bilateral relations.
During his tenure, Dogu also received Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in Caracas, and on March 30, official operations of the U.S. diplomatic mission in the country were resumed.
Barrett, who will take on the diplomatic representation in Caracas, arrives with extensive experience in the region. According to reports, he led humanitarian projects worth over 50 million dollars during his previous diplomatic postings.
The transition occurs at a crucial moment for bilateral diplomacy, framed within the three-phase plan of the President and the Secretary to normalize relations with Venezuela.
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