WASHINGTON. – The State Department reported this Thursday that Washington will reestablish diplomatic relations with Venezuela in a sign of a thaw following the overthrow of former dictator Nicolás Maduro in a US military operation in January.
“USA and the interim authorities of Venezuela have agreed to reestablish diplomatic and consular relations. “This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela,” the State Department said in a statement.
Likewise, the Administration of President Donald Trump stated: “Our commitment is aimed at helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.”
This Thursday, Trump assured that Venezuela has been “stabilized.” He added that the South American country’s oil is on its way to Houston. “Venezuela is doing fantastically. They are doing a fantastic job. The relationship with them is excellent,” said the president.
Three phases in Venezuela
After the operation to capture Maduro, the Trump Government established a three-phase process – stabilization, recovery and democratic transition – for the future of Venezuela. The Republican bets on Delcy Rodriguezformer vice president of Maduro and head of the country, to lead the first of these stages.
The New York magnate has repeatedly praised the work of the Chavista politician at the head of the interim administration and her close cooperation with Washington.
Regarding rebuilding diplomatic exchanges, Washington and Caracas spoke of exploring a gradual resumption of relations to reopen their respective embassies.
At the end of January, Laura Dogu, American chargé d’affaires, landed in Caracas to reopen the mission on Venezuelan soil. A few days later, the Rodríguez administration appointed Félix Plasencia as Venezuela’s diplomatic representative to the United States.
Diplomatic ties between the United States and Venezuela remained broken after, in early 2019, during Donald Trump’s first term, Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president, to which Nicolás Maduro responded by breaking relations.
