The United States has formally reopened its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, after the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country following the Trump administration's ouster of then-President Nicolas Maduro in early January.
The State Department announced on Monday that it had resumed normal operations at the embassy in Caracas - which had been in need of significant repair, including remediation from mould - after a seven-year closure that began during President Donald Trump's first term.
A small team of US diplomats, based in neighbouring Colombia, has been working in Caracas for more than a month, but the embassy itself has not yet been reopened.
"The resumption of operations at US Embassy Caracas is a key milestone in implementing the president's three-phase plan for Venezuela and will strengthen our ability to engage directly with Venezuela's interim government, civil society, and the private sector," the State Department said in a statement.
It said the move marked "a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela."