US State Department officials are visiting Caracas less than a week after the military abduction of Nicolas Maduro.
Published on January 9, 2026
Venezuela’s government has said it is holding “exploratory” talks to restore diplomatic ties with the United States in the wake of Washington. Kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro.
The government, led by interim President Delsey Rodriguez, also said Friday that US State Department officials were visiting Caracas and that Venezuela would soon respond by sending a delegation to Washington.
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The government has “decided to initiate a diplomatic exploratory process with the Government of the United States of America with a view to re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries”, it said in a statement.
US-Venezuela relations deteriorated after the 1999 rise of leftist President Hugo Chávez. Over the next 10 years, both countries withdrew their ambassadors.
In 2019, diplomatic relations were completely severed after US President Donald Trump’s administration recognized opposition figure Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.
Since then, the United States has handled Venezuela’s affairs from an office in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.
Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president just two days after U.S. forces captured Maduro. The operation is done Protests everywhere as a flagrant violation of international law.
The former vice president continued to denounce US actions as a clear violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, although she softened her tone on US cooperation.
“Our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” she said.
The Trump administration has vowed to use military pressure and sanctions Indefinitely assertive It has a vested interest in Venezuela’s government and the management of the country’s vast oil reserves.
Trump initially threatened that Rodriguez would pay a “bigger price” than Maduro if he did not comply with US interests. Maduro remained in a US federal facility on Friday after being indicted earlier this week on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy and drug-trafficking charges.
In a post Thursday on Truth Social, Trump said He also called off a “previously anticipated second wave of attacks” on Venezuela, citing increased cooperation with Caracas.
That included Venezuela’s move on Thursday to leave A small portion of his political prisoners, in what Trump called a symbol of “seeking peace.”
“The USA and Venezuela are working well together, especially as they relate to rebuilding their oil and gas infrastructure.
Trump and his top officials have offered competing justifications for Maduro’s kidnapping and the ongoing pressure campaign against Caracas. The administration called the attack a “law enforcement operation” and said the use of military force was on the table to achieve its goals.
Earlier on Friday, Trump seized the fifth oil tanker in the Caribbean since he announced a blockade on ships sanctioned by Washington in December.
United Nations experts have said the blockade and Washington’s attempts to control Venezuela’s oil industry also violate international law.
Trump is scheduled to meet with oil and gas executives at the White House later Friday.