Veteran U.S. diplomat John M. Barrett has arrived in Caracas to assume the role of charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy, a move announced Thursday that signifies a new chapter in Washington’s diplomatic engagement with Venezuela.
Barrett, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, assumed his post in April after most recently serving as charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. His arrival comes as part of President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan to restore democracy in Venezuela and underscores the United States’ continued diplomatic presence in the nation, with the charge d’affaires serving as the top U.S. representative pending Senate confirmation of an ambassador.
According to U.S. officials, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured by U.S. forces on January 3 during a military operation in Caracas that included coordinated strikes and rapid extraction. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to the United States, where he faces federal charges including narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking conspiracy.
The operation, conducted by U.S. special forces with intelligence support, marked a significant escalation in American involvement in Venezuela and triggered widespread political upheaval within the country. During this period of uncertainty, then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed leadership roles.
Prior to his posting in Guatemala, Barrett served from 2023 to 2025 as deputy chief of mission—the second-ranking official—at the U.S. Embassy in Panama. In a video released by the U.S. Embassy, Barrett stated: “The relationship between the United States and Venezuela will shape the future of our hemisphere. My name is John Barrett, and I have just arrived in Venezuela to serve as charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.” He added, “President Trump and Secretary Rubio have a clear vision for the prosperity of our region, and I am here to continue implementing their three-phase plan for Venezuela. We remain committed to Venezuela.”
Barrett’s diplomatic experience includes roles as counselor for economic affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Peru and as consul general in Recife, Brazil, where he led U.S. diplomatic engagement across eight northeastern states. His career spans assignments across Latin America and beyond, including service in China and Afghanistan, a previous tour in Guatemala, and work from 2015 to 2017 as the State Department’s senior country officer for the Philippines. Earlier, Barrett served as counselor for economic affairs at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador from 2012 to 2015.
Before joining the State Department, Barrett held business and strategic planning roles with PepsiCo, The Walt Disney Co., and L.E.K. Consulting. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Barrett speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
