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The American flag proudly waved once more over the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela this past Saturday, a significant sight not seen in the South American nation for seven years.
While the embassy in Caracas is still undergoing renovations, there is no official word yet on when the facility will be fully operational, according to a report by The Associated Press.
This symbolic gesture follows the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January, signaling a potential thaw in diplomatic tensions.
In a notable scene, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas saw its flag hoisted again seven years after it was taken down when diplomatic ties were severed between the U.S. and Venezuela in 2019. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
The U.S. Embassy commemorated this moment on social media, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between Washington and Caracas.
“A new era for U.S.-Venezuela relations has begun,” the U.S. Embassy wrote on X.
Some residents expressed hope that the flag signals improved ties with the international community.
Caracas resident Alessandro Di Benedetto said the atmosphere among onlookers was optimistic, according to The Associated Press.
The entrance sign of the U.S. Embassy is seen in Caracas, Venezuela. (Associated Press)
“I found several people here surprised and happy because today they raised the U.S. flag at the embassy,” he said. “This is positive; this is another step.”
The embassy had been closed since March 12, 2019, when the U.S. and Venezuela cut diplomatic relations, according to the website for the U.S. Department of State.
Maduro was captured during a U.S. military operation in Caracas on Jan. 3 and flown to New York, where he is currently being held in a federal jail.
Nicolás Maduro is seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026 in New York City. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images)
He faces multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess those weapons.
Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, is also facing federal charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
Both pleaded not guilty during a federal court appearance in New York on Jan. 5.