The US and Venezuelan governments have designated charge d’affaires to each other’s capitals.  The move signals a move towards the normalization of relations, after months of unrest in Venezuela that Caracas had repeatedly alleged was sparked, at least in part, by US interference.

Venezuela has designated Maximilian Sanchez Arvelaiz as its charge d’affaires in Washington.  He’s also Caracas’ proposed ambassador if the two countries agree to such an exchange.  Washington has responded by appointing veteran diplomat Lee McClenny as its representative in Caracas.  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wanted to exchange ambassadors in February, but the plan was scuttled by the growth of right-wing street protests. 

The countries have been poor relations since early in the presidency of the late Hugo Chavez, when the US government under then-President George W. Bush was widely suspected to have supported a fail attempt at a coup d’etat.  Chavez emerged stronger than ever, and never missed an opportunity to take rhetorical jabs at Washington.

Since 2010, Venezuela and the US haven’t even had ambassadors in each other’s capitals.  And the charges d’affaires packed up and went home last September after Chavez’ successor Maduro expelled three American diplomats for allegedly conspiring with the opposition.