United States–Venezuela relations have traditionally been characterized by an important trade and investment relationship as well as cooperation in combating the production and transit of illegal drugs.
William Rivington Brownfield is a Career Ambassador in the United States Foreign Service and the former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs as of January 10,2011. He has previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Chile,Venezuela,and Colombia.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is an agency that reports to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security,Democracy,and Human Rights within the Department of State. Under the umbrella of its general mission of developing policies and programs to combat international narcotics and crime,INL plays an important role in the training of partner nation security forces.
Thomas Alfred Shannon Jr. is an American diplomat who served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2016 to 2018. In early 2017,Shannon served as acting United States Secretary of State until President Donald Trump's nominee,Rex Tillerson,was confirmed. He was also acting Deputy Secretary of State of the United States until the Senate confirmed President Trump's nominee,John J. Sullivan.
Bolivia–United States relations were established in 1837 with the first ambassadorial visit from the United States to Peru–Bolivian Confederation. The Confederation dissolved in 1839,and bilateral relations did not occur until 1848 when the United States recognized Bolivia as a sovereign state and appointed John Appleton as the Chargéd'Affaires.
Luis Edmundo Arreaga-Rodas is a Guatemalan American diplomat and government official who served as the United States Ambassador to Guatemala from 2017 to 2020. He previously served as United States Ambassador to Iceland from 2010 to 2013. In January 2016,he was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. In June 2017,President Donald Trump nominated Arreaga to become the United States Ambassador to Guatemala. This nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3,2017.
William Edward "Bill" Todd was appointed in May 2019 as Deputy Under Secretary for Management. He also served as the Acting Under Secretary of State for Management from February 2018 to May 2019. He retired from the Department of State in May 2021.
Roberta S. Jacobson is an American diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Mexico from June 2016 to May 2018. She previously served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs from March 30,2012,to May 5,2016. The United States Senate approved her nomination as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico on April 28,2016. In March 2018,Jacobson announced her resignation effective May 5. Foreign Policy reported on January 18,2021 that Jacobson would be in charge of Mexico–United States border affairs at the National Security Council under President Joe Biden.
The Embassy of the United States in Caracas is a United States embassy that represents the United States in Caracas,Venezuela. The embassy provides assistance to American citizens and residents who live in Venezuela and issues visas to foreign nationals,who are Venezuelan and legal residents in Venezuela,who wish to visit or immigrate to the United States.
Deborah A. McCarthy is an American diplomat and a former Ambassador of the United States of America to Lithuania.
Todd Crawford Chapman is an American career diplomat who has served as the United States Ambassador to Brazil and the United States Ambassador to Ecuador.
Lisa Anne Johnson is an American diplomat who is the nominee to be the next US ambassador to Lebanon. She previously served as the US ambassador to Namibia.
Francisco "Paco" Palmieri is an American diplomat who previously served as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs,leading the State Department’s efforts to advance U.S. foreign policy goals in the region from January 2017 to November 2018. Palmieri managed the successful 2018 Summit of the Americas in Peru,U.S. engagement with the Lima Group unifying 15 Western Hemisphere democracies in a multilateral diplomatic response to the crisis in Venezuela,the reorientation of U.S. foreign assistance in support of the Colombia peace process,the formulation and adoption of a new comprehensive U.S. political and economic Caribbean 2020 strategy,the launch of the renegotiation of the 50-year old Columbia River Treaty with Canada,and the multi-agency response to the ongoing migration challenges emanating from Central America. He also was responsible for the daily management of the Bureau’s 53 overseas U.S. diplomatic missions,12,000 employees,and implementation of the Hemisphere’s $1.58 billion foreign assistance and $290 million operating budgets. He recently served as the Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor to Admiral Craig S. Faller at United States Southern Command,succeeding former Ambassador Jean Elizabeth Manes in July 2021.
George P. Kent is an American diplomat. He is ambassador to Estonia since February 21,2023. George Kent served as deputy assistant secretary of state for the European and Eurasian Affairs from 2018 to 2021. As a United States Foreign Service officer,his early service has included assignments in the U.S. diplomatic missions to Poland,Thailand and Uzbekistan. In 2004,he was assigned to serve as deputy political counselor in Kyiv,Ukraine,and was deputy chief of mission in Kyiv from 2015 to 2018.
James Broward Story is an American diplomat serving he had served United States ambassador to Venezuela but located temporarily in the Venezuela Affairs Unit of the Department of State,located at the United States Embassy in Bogota,Colombia between 2018-2023. Story was serving as the deputy chief of mission in Caracas until his superior,Todd Robinson,was expelled and U.S. diplomatic operations in Venezuela ended due to security and operational concerns. Before arriving in Venezuela,Story was serving as Consul General in Rio de Janeiro.
Jessica Davis Ba is an American diplomat who serves as the United States ambassador to Ivory Coast in the Biden administration. She previously served as Senior Coordinator and Special Advisor for Africa in the Office of the Vice President. Davis Ba previously served as the Chargéd’Affaires,ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in N’Djamena,Chad.
Steven H. Fagin is an American diplomat serving as the United States ambassador to Yemen since 2022.
Lesslie Clay Viguerie is an American attorney and career diplomat who serves as the United States ambassador to Kyrgyzstan since December 2022.
Bruce I. Turner is an American diplomat who is the U.S. representative to the Conference on Disarmament,with the rank of Ambassador.
