The US State Department has resumed operations at its embassy in Caracas, a crucial milestone in reestablishing diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela. This follows the January capture of Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro, who was transported to New York to face drug charges. Laura Dogu, a two-time Ambassador to Nicaragua and Honduras, was dispatched to Caracas in January as charge d'affaires of the US. She has been working to restore the chancery building at the U.,S. Embassy in Caraca to prepare for the full return of personnel and consular services. The US has not given a timeline on when it will move to the third phase of a political transition through elections.