The U.S. and Venezuelan governments agreed to resume diplomatic and consular ‌ties, El Pais reported on March 5.

In a statement announcing the decision, the U.S. State Department said, "Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan ​people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government." The announcement came just over two months after the Jan. 3 U.S. capture of then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Since then, Rodriguez has adopted a collaborative approach toward Washington, having reformed the oil legislation and promised changes to mining rules while releasing political prisoners and removing Cuban operatives from the country. Both countries suspended diplomatic relations in January 2019, when Maduro accused the U.S. government of interventionism after Trump recognized then-National Assembly President Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.