U.S.–Venezuela Relations

The American flag was raised over the U.S. Embassy compound in Caracas for the first time since 2019, a symbolic step while the building remains under renovation and the State Department has not announced a date for full reopening. The move follows Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s extradition to and detention in New York on narco‑terrorism, cocaine importation and weapons‑related conspiracy charges—he and his wife pleaded not guilty on Jan. 5—and locals said they were surprised and optimistic to see the flag.