On Saturday, the American flag once more flew above the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, signifying the first time it has been hoisted in the South American nation in seven years.
The embassy complex in Caracas remains under renovation, and officials have yet to declare when the facility will fully reopen, as reported by The Associated Press.
The return of the flag follows several months after former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by U.S. forces in January.
The U.S. Embassy underscored the occasion in a social media post, referring to it as the beginning of a fresh chapter in relations between Washington and Caracas.
“A new era in U.S.-Venezuela relations has commenced,” the U.S. Embassy posted on X.
Certain residents voiced hope that the flag indicates strengthened connections with the global community.
Caracas resident Alessandro Di Benedetto noted that the mood among onlookers was hopeful, as per The Associated Press.
“I encountered several people here who were surprised and pleased because the U.S. flag was raised at the embassy today,” he stated. “This is a positive development; it’s another step forward.”
The embassy has been shuttered since March 12, 2019, when the U.S. and Venezuela severed diplomatic relations, as per the U.S. Department of State’s website.
Maduro was detained during a U.S. military operation in Caracas on January 3 and transported to New York, where he is now being held in a federal prison.
He is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons.
Maduro’s spouse, Cilia Flores, is likewise facing federal charges connected to drug trafficking and weapons violations.
Both entered not guilty pleas during a federal court appearance in New York on January 5.