Venezuela Merges 2 Ministries, Names US Ambassador Félix Plasencia to Lead
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 13
Venezuela Merges 2 Ministries, Names US Ambassador Félix Plasencia to Lead
1 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 13
Summary
Delcy Rodríguez on Monday folded Venezuela’s foreign policy and international trade ministries into a single office and put US ambassador Félix Plasencia in charge.
The overhaul comes as Caracas deepens engagement with Washington and tries to rebuild external economic ties alongside its diplomatic reset.
That reset has accelerated since Nicolás Maduro’s January ouster, with the acting government seeking to recast Venezuela’s political and economic relations at home and abroad.
Is Venezuela trading democratic freedom for a US-backed economic recovery?
Will closer US ties finally end the humanitarian crisis for ordinary Venezuelans?
Venezuela Merges Foreign Ministries and Appoints Plasencia Amid Political Reshuffle and Economic Crisis (July 2026)
Overview
On July 13, 2026, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced a major restructuring of the country’s foreign policy by merging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade into a single entity: the Ministry of the People’s Power for Relations and Foreign Trade. This move aims to streamline Venezuela’s international engagement, especially in diplomacy and trade. Félix Plasencia, a trusted ally of Rodriguez with extensive diplomatic experience, including serving as foreign minister under Nicolas Maduro, was appointed to lead the new ministry. This strategic consolidation reflects efforts to strengthen Venezuela’s global presence during a period of significant political transition.