The coalition stated: 'This political alliance is ready and ready to deepen joint work in favor of a democratic transition in Venezuela.' Dogu arrived in Caracas this Saturday to reopen the U.S. diplomatic mission in Venezuela, which had been closed for seven years after the two countries broke diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela shared via its X account two photos of Dogu descending from the plane at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, which serves the Venezuelan capital. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil reported that he received Dogu in Caracas to map out a work plan 'on matters of bilateral interest.' In a message on Telegram, Gil also said that existing differences will be addressed and resolved 'through diplomatic dialogue and based on mutual respect and international law.' On January 22, the Trump administration appointed Dogu as head of the Office of Venezuelan Affairs, which has been based in Colombia to date. This unit is the State Department office responsible for managing relations with Venezuela since the suspension of embassy operations in Caracas in 2019. Dogu will work with public and private sector individuals, as well as with civil society, to advance a three-phase plan established by the U.S. government. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio established a three-phase plan for Venezuela marked by a first stage of stabilization, another of recovery, and finally the democratic transition. As the first month of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States approaches, relations with the Caribbean nation enter a new phase with the reopening of the U.S. diplomatic mission. Venezuela and the United States broke relations in 2019 after the first Trump administration recognized opposition deputy Juan Guaidó as the country's interim president. Following that announcement, the Maduro government then expelled James Story, who was serving as chargé d'affaires in Caracas, as well as the rest of the U.S. diplomatic corps. Since then, Washington has managed everything related to the oil-rich country from its U.S. External Office. Venezuela's majority opposition, grouped in the Democratic Platform (PUD), expressed hope that the arrival of the new U.S. chargé d'affaires in the South American country, Laura Dogu, would mark the beginning of a new era in the 'complex situation' the nation is going through.
