In this context, Trump held an extensive telephone conversation with Rodríguez this week, marking a stage of coordination that adds to the most recent diplomatic meetings. In parallel, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, visited Caracas for meetings with the interim president, which analysts interpreted as a sign of commitment from the US Administration to strengthen cooperation mechanisms in security and foreign policy. Washington, United States, January 17, 2026 – Total News Agency-TNA. The United States and Venezuela took significant steps this week in the process of fully restoring their diplomatic relations, with efforts aimed at reopening the embassies of both countries after years of deep estrangement between Washington and Caracas. This coincides with the parallel assessment of the reopening of the US embassy in Caracas, which has also been closed since the same rupture and is located in the Baruta municipality within the Venezuelan metropolitan area. During this period of absent full relations, the United States managed matters related to Venezuela through its External Office based at the US Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, which assumed consular and liaison functions since 2019.
