The United States and Venezuela have restored their diplomatic relationship amid the country’s leadership transition.
“The United States and Venezuela’s interim authorities have agreed to re-establish 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. “Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.”
According to the statement, the U.S. will continue to support the “Venezuelan people and working with partners across the region to advance stability and prosperity.”
A communication from Venezuela similarly recognized the new relationship. The government “reaffirms its willingness to move forward” in the relationship and “expresses confidence that this process will contribute to strengthening understanding and opening opportunities for a positive and mutually beneficial relationship,” a translation reads.
The growing relationship between the United States and Venezuela follows Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum traveling to Venezuela to begin negotiations surrounding rare earth minerals.
President Trump took to Truth Social to honor Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who he said is “doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well. The Oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both Countries is a very nice thing to see!” Rodriguez previously served as the vice president of former leader Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also gifted President Trump her Nobel Peace Prize during a January meeting at the White House. She told “FOX & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy that President Trump “deserves” the award.
“It was a very emotional moment,” she said. “I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.”
