The United States has signaled a three-phase plan to help Venezuela move toward security, economic recovery and a democratic transition, U.S. charge d'affaires Laura Dogu said after arriving in Caracas. Dogu met interim president Delcy Rodríguez a month after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was removed in an operation that caused casualties. Washington says it will work with Rodríguez if she meets U.S. conditions, including access to Venezuela's oil; Caracas named Felix Plasencia to lead its mission in Washington.
US Charge d'Affaires Outlines Three-Phase Plan for a 'Prosperous and Democratic' Venezuela
Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez (R) met US envoy Laura Dogu in Caracas (Handout)(Handout/Venezuelan Presidency/AFP)
Washington signaled a multiphase effort to help Venezuela become "prosperous and democratic," the newly posted U.S. charge d'affaires in Caracas said on Tuesday — exactly one month after U.S. forces removed President Nicolás Maduro in an operation that authorities say left casualties.
Arrival and Immediate Message
The U.S. diplomatic mission published a social media video showing Charge d'Affaires Laura Dogu arriving at the largely shuttered U.S. mission in Caracas, which has operated at reduced capacity since diplomatic ties were severed in 2019. A caption on the clip read: "The work has already begun."
Three-Phase Plan
In the video, Dogu — a former U.S. ambassador to Nicaragua and Honduras — outlined a three-step approach for the crisis-hit South American nation: 1) restore security, 2) pursue economic recovery, and 3) complete a transition to a friendly, stable, prosperous and democratic Venezuela.
Meetings and Political Context
Dogu arrived in Caracas on Saturday and two days later met interim president Delcy Rodríguez at the presidential palace. Rodríguez assumed authority following Maduro's removal. Venezuela's opposition has demanded fresh elections since that event, saying interim arrangements are insufficient to restore democratic legitimacy.
Conditions for Cooperation
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he is willing to cooperate with Rodríguez's team provided they meet Washington's conditions, notably granting access to Venezuela's oil resources — a condition that, according to reports, Rodríguez has begun to satisfy.
Diplomatic Appointments and Background
Caracas on Monday named former foreign minister Felix Plasencia to head its mission in Washington. The U.S. embassy in Caracas has been mostly closed since the two countries cut ties after Maduro's disputed 2018 re-election; a small local staff remained on site from 2019 onward. Prior to Dogu's arrival, John McNamara had served as U.S. chargé d'affaires for Venezuela while based in neighboring Colombia.
Note: A chargé d'affaires leads a diplomatic mission in the absence of a full ambassador.
The coming weeks will test whether Washington and Caracas can translate this outline into tangible steps on security, economic stabilization and a political transition acceptable both to Venezuelan stakeholders and to international partners.
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