U.S., Venezuela to establish diplomatic relations for first time since 2019

Politics U.S., Venezuela agree to establish diplomatic relations for first time since 2019 March 5, 2026 / 8:50 PM EST / CBS/AP Add CBS News on Google The United States and Venezuela agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations in a major shift in a historically adversarial relationship, the State Department said on Thursday. "The United States and Venezuela's interim authorities have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations," the State Department said in a statement. "This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela." The move comes after Trump administration officials have made several visits the South American nation following a U.S. military operation that deposed former President Nicolás Maduro in January, the latest by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum this week. The Trump administration has been stepping up pressure on Maduro loyalists now in power to accept its vision for the oil-rich nation . Relations between the two countries were cut off in 2019, during the first Trump administration, in a decision by Maduro. They closed their embassies mutually after President Trump gave public support to Venezuelan opposition lawmaker Juan Guaidó, who claimed to be the nation's interim president in January 2019. That same month, amid Venezuelan political unrest and violence, the Trump administration ordered all non-essential American diplomatic staff and government personnel to leave Venezuela. Since then, the U.S. has operated its consular services out of Bogota, Colombia. In January, following Maduro's capture, the Trump administration notified Congress that it would begin steps to eventually reopen its embassy in Venezuela. The State Department in its statement said that talks between the countries were "focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected ...