WASHINGTON - The US Embassy in Venezuela's capital resumed operations on Monday, roughly three months after US forces raided the South American country and forcibly seized its president, Nicolas Maduro.

"Today, we are formally resuming operations at the US Embassy in Caracas, marking a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela," the US Department of State said in a statement, adding that the reopening of the embassy "is expected to strengthen direct engagement with the interim government, civil society and the private sector."

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The United States gradually resumed ties with Venezuela after Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez took over as acting president in the wake of Maduro's capture on Jan 3.

The United States and Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations in 2019, when US President Donald Trump, during his first term, recognized then opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela, accusing Maduro of rigging the presidential election.