Venezuela starts ‘exploratory process’ to re-establish formal ties with US

US State Department officials are visiting Caracas less than a week after the military abduction of Nicolas Maduro.Published On 9 Jan 2026Venezuela’s government has said it is in “exploratory” talks to restore diplomatic ties with the United States in the wake of Washington’s abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.The government led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez also said on Friday that US Department of State officials were visiting Caracas and that Venezuela would soon reciprocate by sending a delegation to Washington.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3What is Chavismo – and is it dead after US abduction of Venezuela’s Maduro?list 2 of 3Venezuela releases imprisoned political figures in Trump-approved movelist 3 of 3It’s not the oil. It’s Floridaend of listThe government “has decided to initiate an exploratory process of a diplomatic nature with the Government of the United States of America, aimed at the re-establishment of diplomatic missions in both countries”, it said in a statement.US-Venezuela relations tanked in the wake of the rise of left-wing President Hugo Chavez in 1999. Over the following 10 years, both countries withdrew their respective ambassadors.In 2019, diplomatic relations fully ceased after the administration of US President Donald Trump recognised opposition figure Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.Since then, the US has handled Venezuela affairs from an office in Colombia’s capital, Bogota.Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president just two days after the US military seized Maduro. The operation has been roundly condemned as a blatant violation of international law.The former vice president had continued to decry the US actions as a flagrant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, even as she has softened her tone on cooperation in the US.“Our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” she said.