March 5 (UPI) -- The United States and Venezuela will re-establish diplomatic and consular relations just over two months after former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was deposed from power.
The U.S. Department of State made the announcement on Thursday evening after high-ranking U.S. officials met with their counterparts in Venezuela to negotiate greater access to oil, critical minerals and gold.
"This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela," the State Department said in a statement.
"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," officials said in the statement.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, who was installed as the country's leader after the U.S. military captured Maduro and brought him to the United States to face charges that include narco-trafficking.
