The United States and Venezuela’s interim government have agreed to reestablish diplomatic and consular relations, the US State Department said in a statement. The department said its focus is on creating the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratic government.
The move signals a thaw in relations after US authorities captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026 and brought him to the United States to face criminal charges. During US President Donald Trump’s first term, the United States stopped recognizing Maduro’s administration as Venezuela’s legitimate government and withdrew diplomats, suspending operations at the US embassy in Caracas in 2019.
Separately, Venezuelan officials have promised to provide security protections for foreign mining companies, a US official said. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he received assurances from Venezuela that the government would “ensure” the safety of foreign firms. Burgum, speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day visit to Venezuela in which he was accompanied by representatives from several mining and minerals companies, said dozens of companies had expressed interest in investing there.
Venezuela is rich in oil and in minerals including gold, diamonds, bauxite, coltan and other materials used in electronics and mobile phones. However, nationalizations under President Hugo Chávez (1999–2013) and subsequent policies have left foreign investment minimal over the past decade. Much mining activity is concentrated in the Orinoco Mining Arc, a region where armed groups remain active.
The huge problem with Venezuela’s oil
Edited by: Sean Sinico