Laura F. Dogu, the U.S. chargé d’affaires for the Venezuela Affairs Unit, arrived in Caracas as the Trump administration moves to reopen a U.S. embassy for the first time since 2019. Dogu said she and her team are "ready to work" and will pursue a three‑phased plan engaging public and private sectors. Her arrival follows recent political developments in Venezuela and reports about Nicolás Maduro that have prompted increased U.S. engagement, including reported CIA efforts to expand on‑the‑ground presence. The State Department has told Congress it will use a phased approach to potentially resume embassy services, possibly including a temporary facility.
U.S. Envoy Laura Dogu Arrives in Caracas as Washington Moves to Reopen Embassy
“I just arrived in Venezuela. My team and I are ready to work,” Laura Dogu, the United States’ new top envoy to Venezuela said in a social media post. - Embajada de los EE.UU., Venezuela/@usembassyve/X
Laura F. Dogu, Washington’s newly appointed top envoy to Venezuela, arrived in Caracas on Saturday as the Trump administration moves to reopen a U.S. embassy in the country for the first time since 2019.
Dogu posted on social media, attaching two photos of her disembarking a plane and walking on the tarmac, writing: "I just arrived in Venezuela. My team and I are ready to work."
A U.S. State Department official said Dogu will meet with representatives from the private and public sectors, as well as civic organizations, to advance the President and Secretary’s three‑phased plan for Venezuela. Dogu serves as chargé d’affaires for the U.S. Venezuela Affairs Unit, which is headquartered in Colombia.
Diplomatic Steps and Political Context
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto welcomed Dogu on social media, calling her arrival part of a "working agenda" intended to establish a roadmap for cooperation on bilateral matters and to address outstanding differences through diplomatic dialogue based on mutual respect and international law.
The United States withdrew diplomatic staff and suspended operations at its Caracas embassy in 2019. Her presence in Caracas represents a visible step toward restoring formal diplomatic ties. Earlier this month a U.S. State Department team visited Venezuela for the first time since recent major developments involving President Nicolás Maduro, according to U.S. officials.
At a Senate hearing, Senator Marco Rubio said Dogu would "ultimately" lead from Caracas and that the U.S. would establish a diplomatic presence in Venezuela "very quickly." The State Department has notified Congress that it plans to use a phased approach to potentially resume embassy services, which could include opening a temporary facility.
Intelligence and Policy Moves
CNN has reported that U.S. intelligence agencies are working to establish a longer‑term presence on the ground in Venezuela. U.S. officials and media outlets say Washington has sought to broaden its engagement there following recent political shifts and reports about Maduro’s status.
President Donald Trump, speaking after those events, said his administration would assert control over certain national assets, including Venezuelan oil production, and announced the U.S. would be "opening up" Venezuela’s commercial airspace, which had not been formally closed.
Venezuela’s acting government, led by former Maduro deputy Delcy Rodríguez, has taken steps viewed as favorable to Washington. These include approving legal changes to make it easier for foreign companies to participate in the country’s oil sector, proposing an amnesty measure that could free hundreds of political prisoners, and announcing the closure of a notorious detention center. U.S. officials said Venezuela released all known U.S. citizens detained in the country on the same day; the U.S. has pressed for the release of all political prisoners.
About Dogu
Laura Dogu is a career U.S. diplomat who previously served as ambassador to Honduras and Nicaragua. She also currently serves as a foreign policy adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Reporting contributed by Dalia Abdelwahab, Jennifer Hansler, Stefano Pozzebon and Uriel Blanco of CNN.
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