The Digester

The United States raised its flag over the Caracas embassy on March 14, 2026, marking a renewed diplomatic presence as Washington presses Venezuela’s interim government for access to oil and other resources.

US diplomats raised the American flag at the embassy in Caracas on March 14, 2026, restoring operations after a seven-year closure.
Charge d’Affaires Laura Dogu announced the reopening and said the US is committed to staying with Venezuela.
The move follows a January 3 US operation that resulted in the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife and the installation of Delcy Rodriguez as interim president.
The Trump administration has sought concessions from Rodriguez’s government, including access to Venezuela’s oil and other natural resources.
Rodriguez has pushed laws to open the nationalized oil and mining sectors to foreign investment and has transferred about 80 million barrels into US hands, which were later sold by the US administration.
President Trump and advisers publicly framed control of Venezuelan resources as a US objective, while critics and legal experts say such claims conflict with international law on national sovereignty over resources.
Proceeds from US-led oil sales are being held in a US-controlled account, and Rodriguez has asked the US to lift remaining sanctions to improve Venezuela’s economic conditions.

US embassy reopens in Caracas as Washington presses for Venezuelan oil access

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