Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States began in 1835, shortly after Venezuela left Gran Colombia. In 1836, the two countries signed their first treaty on peace, friendship, navigation, and trade. Over the decades, relations weathered civil wars, dictatorships, revolutions, and changes of political regimes, but were preserved by trade and economic ties.
The first official break occurred in 1908, when Washington closed its diplomatic mission in Caracas because of disputes with the government of Cipriano Castro. After Juan Vicente Gómez came to power, Venezuela agreed to negotiations, and relations were restored in 1909. The country subsequently became an important oil supplier to the United States, and in 1939 the American mission in Caracas was granted embassy status. Despite political crises and disagreements with various Venezuelan governments, relations did not break down again for a long time.
The situation changed sharply after Hugo Chávez came to power in 1999: disputes over oil, trade, and sovereignty were compounded by ideological confrontation. In 2008, Chávez expelled the U.S. ambassador, but diplomatic channels were soon restored. The final break occurred on January 23, 2019, when Nicolás Maduro announced the severance of relations, and the U.S. embassy suspended operations in March. On March 5, 2026, Caracas and Washington announced the restoration of diplomatic and consular ties with the participation of Delcy Rodríguez. Nearly two centuries of history have shown that relations can be severed with a single decision, but restoring them requires lengthy negotiations and political will.
Full version: Two Centuries of Breaks Between Venezuela and the United States