Author: Michael Johnes

A team from the US State Department visited Venezuela on Friday for the first time since Nicolas Maduro was ousted. This visit is part of the US effort to reopen its embassy in Caracas and signals the administration’s goal to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Venezuela.

US diplomatic and security staff from the Venezuela Affairs Unit, based in Colombia, traveled to the Venezuelan capital. They were with acting US Ambassador to Colombia John McNamara to assess the situation for a gradual return to operations.

In 2019, the US withdrew its diplomats and closed the embassy in Caracas. Since then, the Venezuela Affairs Unit has been working with US diplomats in Bogotá.

A senior State Department official said on Monday that they are preparing to reopen the embassy in Venezuela if the president decides to proceed.

Discussions are ongoing about meetings between US diplomats and Venezuelan political leaders, but these meetings are not likely to happen during this trip, according to a senior US official.

The Venezuelan foreign ministry announced on Friday that it is starting an “exploratory diplomatic process” with the US. This process aims to re-establish diplomatic missions in both countries and discuss the implications of what they call the “aggression and kidnapping” of Maduro and his wife.

They confirmed that the US delegation came to Venezuela to assess technical and logistical needs, and stated that a group of Venezuelan diplomats would travel to the US to complete necessary tasks.

Will US Oil Companies Reopen Operations in Venezuela?

Former diplomats say that the lack of a US presence in Venezuela will make it difficult to rebuild the country and ensure accountability. Trump wants US oil companies to return to Venezuela to help with rebuilding efforts. He mentioned earlier this week that the US was “asked” to reopen its embassy but did not give more details.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told important lawmakers during a briefing on Monday that the State Department is looking into reopening the US embassy. He said officials need to check the building to see if it is in good enough shape to reopen, according to a source familiar with the briefing. He added that they plan to send people in the coming days.

Another source mentioned that there are discussions about sending a team of experts to inspect the building’s condition. They need to find out what repairs are necessary before reopening the embassy.

The embassy has been closed since the Maduro government cut diplomatic ties with the first Trump administration after it recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó. At the same time, Maduro closed Venezuelan diplomatic offices and withdrew personnel from the US.

One source said that it might take a long time for the embassy to fully reopen. However, a small team could be set up quickly. Some diplomats have already offered to work in Caracas.

A former senior US official mentioned that reopening the embassy “could be very fast.” However, the State Department needs to be sure that the security conditions are safe for US personnel.

“The key issue is whether we have the right security conditions and confidence that our people won’t be injured or kidnapped by the regime. That is the difficult part,” the official told CNN.

US forces have seized another tanker in the Caribbean Sea as part of ongoing efforts to control Venezuelan oil exports. The tanker, called the Olina, is on several countries’ sanctions lists and is the fifth vessel taken by the US in recent weeks.

The US uses these seizures to pressure Venezuela’s interim government and to remove the “dark fleet” of over 1,000 tankers that carry sanctioned and illegal oil. The US military’s Southern Command stated, “Once again, our forces have sent a clear message: ‘there is no safe haven for criminals.’”

Officials said the operation took place before dawn, with Marines and sailors working alongside the Department of Homeland Security. They seized the tanker after it left Venezuela, trying to avoid US forces.

The Olina reportedly left Venezuelan waters late Sunday after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in an early morning raid.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X that this was another “ghost fleet” tanker suspected of carrying embargoed oil. She shared a video showing troops descending onto the ship from a helicopter, calling the operation “safe” and “effective.”

Maritime risk company Vanguard Tech reported that the vessel was trying to break through the US naval blockade in the Caribbean. It had been sailing under a false flag registered to Timor-Leste, according to the International Maritime Organization.

Vanguard Tech added that the vessel’s location tracker was last active 52 days ago, northeast of Curacao. They noted that the seizure followed a long pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments in the area.

The US had sanctioned the Olina last January when it was named Minerva M, accusing it of helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine by moving Russian oil to foreign markets.

US Back-to-back Operations

This week, the United States announced it seized two tankers involved in Venezuelan oil exports during operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. One of the tankers is the Marinera, which is flagged from Russia. The UK Royal Navy helped capture it by providing support from air and sea.

The Marinera is believed to be part of a shadow fleet that transports oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran, violating US sanctions. US officials say the Marinera was falsely flying the flag of Guyana last month, making it stateless.

The second tanker, the M/T Sophia, is accused of engaging in illegal activities. Experts explain that, under international maritime law, authorities can board stateless vessels.

US President Donald Trump stated that Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, will hand over up to 50 million barrels of oil worth about $2.8 billion (£2.1 billion) to the US.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will sell this oil at market rates and manage how the proceeds are used to benefit the Venezuelan people.

The U.S. Senate will vote on a resolution Thursday that would stop President Donald Trump from taking military action against Venezuela without approval from Congress. Supporters believe the vote could be close.

This vote comes days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a military operation in Caracas. Senators will discuss this resolution, which is part of several efforts to limit military actions against Venezuela, especially after recent attacks on boats off its coast in September.

Republicans have blocked similar measures before, but the last vote was close at 49-51. Two Republican senators joined Democrats to support a resolution in November. At that time, officials from the administration had told lawmakers they did not plan to change the government or conduct strikes in Venezuela.

After Maduro’s capture, some lawmakers accused the administration of misleading Congress. Democrats have spoken out publicly, while some Republicans have expressed concerns privately.

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who helps sponsor the resolution, said, “I spoke to at least two Republicans today who did not support this resolution before but are now reconsidering.” He added, “I can’t guarantee how they will vote, but at least two are thinking about it, and some are openly sharing their concerns.” Paul did not name the Republicans. Trump’s party has a 53-47 seat majority in the Senate.

Obstacles Ahead

The Senate’s approval of the war powers resolution is a big win for lawmakers who want more control over military actions. However, for the resolution to become law, it needs to pass the Republican-led House of Representatives and get through a likely veto from Trump, which requires two-thirds majority votes in both chambers.

Lawmakers understand the challenges ahead but believe some Republicans may worry about a long and costly effort to change the government in Venezuela. On Wednesday, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he wants to raise the U.S. military budget from $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion.

Senator Kaine noted that U.S. forces have been hitting Venezuelan boats for months. He also mentioned Trump’s claim that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela and the seizure of Venezuelan oil, stating, “This is not a surgical arrest operation at all.”

The U.S. Constitution says that any president must get Congress’s approval before starting a long military operation. Senators against the war powers resolution argue that taking on Maduro is a law enforcement issue, not a military one. Maduro is on trial in a U.S. court for drug and gun charges, which he denies. They argue that Trump, as the commander-in-chief, has the right to carry out limited military actions he thinks are necessary for national security.