By Micah Jonah
January 23, 2026
The United States has named a seasoned diplomat as its new top envoy to Venezuela as part of efforts to stabilize the crisis‑ridden South American nation following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Laura Dogu, a veteran Ambassador who previously served in Honduras and Nicaragua, will serve as charge d’affaires at the Venezuela Affairs Unit based in Bogota, according to the US embassy in Caracas.
Her appointment comes after US forces captured Maduro earlier this month, brought him to New York to face federal drug‑trafficking charges. The move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to work with interim Venezuelan authorities, support a transition plan for the country.
A senior State Department official said a full‑time charge d’affaires is needed to steer Washington’s diplomatic engagement during this transition period. Dogu is seen as well‑positioned to lead the mission amid a still‑fragile political landscape.
The United States has also begun preparations for a possible phased reopening of its embassy in Caracas, which has been closed since 2019 due to deteriorating security conditions, political unrest.
