The U.S. Department of State (DoS) announced on March 5, 2026, that the U.S. and the Venezuelan interim government have “agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations.”
In a media note published on the DoS website, the department shared that the agreement “will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela.”
DoS emphasized that the renewed relations will primarily focus on helping the Venezuelan people by creating conditions for a peaceful transition into a democratically elected government through a “phased process.”
“The United States remains committed to supporting the Venezuelan people and working with partners across the region to advance stability and prosperity,” the statement concludes.
The announcement comes after U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s two-day trip to the South American nation, in which he met with acting President Delcy Rodriguez and more than two dozen representatives of U.S. mining and mineral companies to discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to control Venezuela’s natural resources.
“We heard assurances in the meeting today and yesterday that if companies wanted to get to these areas, do due diligence, think about reopening mines, maybe even getting back to mines that they themselves were running 15 or 20 years ago, that this government would ensure their security,” Burgum informed.
Secretary Burgum told reporters that President Rodriguez acknowledged concerns about security risks in the mineral-abundant regions of the country, which have been controlled by guerrilla members, gangs, and other illegal groups that have mined under governmental authorization and provided benefits to officials and the military.
“I believe the steps we are taking demonstrate the goodwill to build this cooperation agenda in the energy and mining sectors, which will strengthen relations between our two countries for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the people of the United States,” President Rodríguez shared on state television.
