US embassy in Venezuela reopens as Trump pushes for access to resources

Trump administration has pressed the interim Venezuelan government for concessions on issues such as oil access.Published On 14 Mar 2026The United States says that it has reopened its embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas after a seven-year hiatus, as President Donald Trump deepens ties with the South American country’s new government.The US embassy said in a social media post on Saturday that the flag over the embassy has been raised once again, in a ceremonial step that signals the resumption of diplomatic activities in Venezuela.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US issues limited licence for Venezuelan gold following high-level visitlist 2 of 3Press freedom declines in Americas, with US seeing sharpest drop: Reportlist 3 of 3UN fact-finding mission warns of continued human rights abuses in Venezuelaend of list“The morning of March 14, 2019, the American flag was lowered for the final time at US Embassy Caracas. This morning, on March 14, 2026, at the same time, my team and I raised the American flag—exactly seven years after it was lowered,” Charge d’Affaires Laura Dogu wrote in the post.“A new era for US-Venezuela relations has begun. Onward with Venezuela.”The US restored diplomatic ties earlier this month, and Dogu, the embassy’s most senior diplomat, added that the US was committed to “staying with Venezuela”.The Trump administration has held up Venezuela as a model for regime change in other countries, including Iran, that have been in conflict with the US.The renewed diplomatic ties come after the US launched a deadly military operation on January 3 on Venezuelan soil, culminating in the abduction of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.Since Maduro’s removal, the socialist leader’s former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has taken over as interim president, with Trump’s approval.But the Trump administration has pressed Rodriguez’s government for multiple concessions, including access to the country’s vast oil reserves and other natural resources.