WASHINGTON

The US State Department on Monday announced the resumption of operations at its embassy in Caracas, calling it “a new chapter” in diplomatic engagement with Venezuela.

“Today, we are formally resuming operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, marking a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela,” the department said in a statement.

Ambassador Laura F. Dogu arrived in Caracas in January as charge d’affaires to lead efforts on the ground, with a team working to restore the embassy compound and prepare for the “full return of personnel” and eventual resumption of consular services, according to the statement.

The US Embassy in Caracas was closed in March 2019 after the administration of Donald Trump recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president, rejecting Nicolas Maduro’s 2018 reelection as illegitimate.

Since then, the mission in neighboring Colombia has handled the US' diplomatic responsibilities.

The resumption comes as Maduro remains in US custody following his abduction in an overnight US military raid in Caracas in early January.

A federal judge last week declined to dismiss narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as both remain detained in New York after pleading not guilty, with no trial date yet set.