Caracas.- The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, appointed Johann Álvarez Márquez this Tuesday as the new chargé d’affaires in the United States (US), who was dismissed on Monday from the Ministry of Foreign Trade due to a merger with the Foreign Ministry.
“I report that I have decided to appoint Johann Álvarez Márquez as the new chargé d’affaires of Venezuela in the United States; with the mission of representing the interests of our country and advancing in this new stage of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect, promoting a relationship based on international law and understanding between both nations,” said Rodríguez on her Telegram account.
Álvarez Márquez, who is an economist, arrives as the new representative of Venezuela in the United States, after the president removed Félix Plasencia from the position on Monday to appoint him as her new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
With these changes, the until-Monday foreign minister Yván Gil became the new Minister of Science and Technology, replacing Gabriela Jiménez, who had been at the head of that portfolio since June 2019.
New renovation
The new cabinet reshuffle comes amid the management of the tragedy caused by the double earthquake of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24, which affected the northern area of Venezuela, especially the state of La Guaira, near Caracas, and which has left more than 4,500 dead.
More Read
We recommend reading:
On July 5th, Rodríguez appointed Francisco Garcés as Minister of Transport, replacing Jacqueline Farías, whom he ordered to lead “the efforts for housing and infrastructure recovery” through the newly created Great Mission Venezuela Renace.
Two days later, he appointed José David Cabello, brother of Chavista leader Diosdado Cabello, as president of the state-owned Petroquímica de Venezuela (Pequiven), after 18 years as superintendent of the National Integrated Service of Customs and Tax Administration (Seniat).
Since taking office as acting head of state last January, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Rodríguez has reshuffled the cabinet amid her close collaboration with Washington.
Both countries were without relations for seven years, until last March, when they formally agreed to restore diplomatic ties.
So far in 2026, their cooperation has resulted in an unprecedented opening for Chavismo in strategic sectors such as oil, mining, and electricity to private and foreign capital.
Today that collaboration has added the response to the tragedy, after which the U.S. Government deployed search and rescue teams, as well as military forces that support aid operations led by the Department of State, according to Washington.
