Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez reacts after being sworn in as Acting President of Venezuela during the inaugural session for the 2026-2031 Legislative Constitutional Period at Palacio Federal Legislativo on January 05, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela. Two days after Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in Caracas by the US forces the National Assembly confirmed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as Acting President. (Photo: Jesus Vargas / Getty Images) "This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela," the State Department said in a statement.
"Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government."
After months of heightened tensions, the U.S. captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in January, setting off a chain of changes in the country, including the swearing-in of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
The two countries have since gradually resumed bilateral relations, after Rodriguez's interim government expressed interest in rebuilding ties with Washington with diplomatic missions in both countries following Maduro's capture.
"The Bolivarian Government reaffirms its willingness to move forward in a new phase of constructive dialogue based on mutual respect, sovereign equality of states, and cooperation between our peoples," the Venezuelan government said in a statement shared on Thursday.
"Venezuela expresses its confidence that this process will contribute to strengthening understanding and opening opportunities for a positive and mutually beneficial relationship," it said.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Writing by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Sonali Paul)